Smell of gas with no sign of leak...

sts2usnss · 07-23-2008, 05:15 PM

I have a 90 runner with the 3VZE. Driving home from work today I kept smelling gas. When I got home I walked all around it and could see no signs of a leak, however when I popped the hood you could tell it was coming from under there. I looked all over that engine and could not find any sigh of a leak. The smell does seem to be stronger on the passenger side though. I did the search on here and found some similar issues but they seemed to have obvious signs of a leak (actual gas dripping). Any ideas where to start looking?

olharleyman · 07-23-2008, 05:50 PM

I just had to do injector seals for the same reason could not see it but smelled it realbad even brought my eyes to watering. Changed all the seals in the injectors no more gas smell and running better.

904_runner · 07-23-2008, 05:56 PM

There is a fuel pulsation dampner on the end of the fuel rail underneath the intake plenum on the passenger side. Idk about yours but there is a little screw under the cap and it fell out of mine and caused it to catch on fire. Might want to check that.

sts2usnss · 07-23-2008, 06:34 PM

Is there anyway to check the injector seals without removing them?

sts2usnss · 07-23-2008, 07:53 PM

anyone?

88runnertx · 07-24-2008, 12:23 PM

I've heard about leaky fuel dampners being the cause for such a smell.

I'm having the same issue with my '88 3vze and I believe it is either the dampner--I'm not a mechanic, anybody got a pic or diagram or where the dampner is--or the fuel injectors are not installed correctly or are leaking.

I'm curious to know what is involved with fixing injectors seals too, or the dampner possibility.

Waiting for yota gurus/yodas to reply.

904_runner · 07-24-2008, 12:30 PM

right around here for that fuel pulsation dampner

Need anything else just ask.

mike92runnerSR5 · 07-24-2008, 12:47 PM

x3 on the pulsation dampner...had same smell...that was the cause..

904_runner · 07-24-2008, 12:57 PM

Oh to answer your question, it depends on what is wrong. No clue about the injectors, but for the dampener, the only two things i can think of is that it might be leaking from around the rim, or the screw fell out. If its the lip you will have to buy a new one. I personally just put red locktight on the screw and put it back in cause that was the problem with mine. Either way, it looks like you are pulling off the plenum and looking around.

Make sure you take care of it before it catches on fire, you don't want this happening!

GOod luck!

abecedarian · 07-24-2008, 01:11 PM

maybe also make sure the hoses to the charcoal canister are in place and good condition.

sts2usnss · 07-24-2008, 05:53 PM

Thanks guys. That definately gives me a place to start checking.

Alex 400 · 07-24-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sts2usnss

Thanks guys. That definately gives me a place to start checking.

mine was also fuel dampner. i got away with it. i was close to having a fire. check it with an inspection mirror. find it with the mirror and then if you can have someone start it and then turn it off and you should be able to see it coming out of the cap. thats what happened to mine. good luck and be safe.

p.s. if you need a new one, get a toyota one, don't get an off brand. I tried that but the only one they had was a hack job and had crappy threads. good luck.

904_runner · 07-24-2008, 06:54 PM

Maybe there should be a recall since this seems common!

Alex 400 · 07-24-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 904_runner

Maybe there should be a recall since this seems common!

you would think so, wouldn't you?

especially something that can cause a fuel fire. mine was dripping on my crossover exhaust pipe. so i could see smoke. that's how close mine was......to

904_runner · 07-24-2008, 10:03 PM

See my above pics! Thats what caused that so You got lucky!

It was soo depressing for me, 16yrs old, first vehicle, catches on fire on the way home before i even got to drive it

.

Luckly, my grandfather was a mechanic so we ended up fixing it in the driveway with the help from the family! Only good outcome is i know a bit about the engine now!

Now its just a braging thing! "250,000 miles, 3.slow, original headgaskets, been through a fire, you know its a toyota thing, lets see your "insert brand of vehicle here" do that!"

Gavy · 07-25-2008, 04:14 AM

I don't know about the 3vze but just last week on my 22RE I had to replace the fuel sending unit located on top of the fuel tank because of a leak however I noticed the gas smell 3-4 days straight before the leak opened up enough to actually let the fuel drip on the ground try and see if the smell is stronger back near the gas tank area

sts2usnss · 07-26-2008, 08:24 AM

Can't smell a thing towards the back of the truck. It is definitely coming from under the hood. The smell is strongest on the passenger side.

Again, thanks for all the tips guys. Hopefully I can find this thing soon. I bought a fire extinguisher yesterday...just in case!

Alex 400 · 07-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sts2usnss

Can't smell a thing towards the back of the truck. It is definitely coming from under the hood. The smell is strongest on the passenger side.

Again, thanks for all the tips guys. Hopefully I can find this thing soon. I bought a fire extinguisher yesterday...just in case!

yeah that is the side the fuel dampner is on too. i bet that's it. yeah have that fire extinguisher ready.

sts2usnss · 07-27-2008, 05:49 AM

From what I can tell this is where it is coming from. Plan is to clean it all up today and let it run for a while and see for sure. But when I run my finger across it, there is more gas than oil. Anybody know what this is? It looks like it's just a fitting?

sts2usnss · 07-27-2008, 07:36 AM

Woohoo! Gunk degreaser was on sale for $1.67 a can! So I stocked up. Now I have everything nice and shiny under the hood. Once it dries I'll go out and crank it and let it run for a while and see if I can actually find this leak.

Again, any help with letting me know what the above pic is would be great. I think it's just a fitting but then I'm an electronics guy. Under no circumstance do I consider myself mechanically inclined..lol.

abecedarian · 07-27-2008, 08:09 AM

looks like a bracket to support maybe a fuel line?

07-23-2008, 05:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	Smell of gas with no sign of leak... I have a 90 runner with the 3VZE. Driving home from work today I kept smelling gas. When I got home I walked all around it and could see no signs of a leak, however when I popped the hood you could tell it was coming from under there. I looked all over that engine and could not find any sigh of a leak. The smell does seem to be stronger on the passenger side though. I did the search on here and found some similar issues but they seemed to have obvious signs of a leak (actual gas dripping). Any ideas where to start looking? __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-23-2008, 05:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
olharleyman Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 1,453	I just had to do injector seals for the same reason could not see it but smelled it realbad even brought my eyes to watering. Changed all the seals in the injectors no more gas smell and running better. __________________ 1990 4 runner 5 Speed Pro Comp Stage II 4" Lift Kit custom 6" coils rear lock right #1620 Rear Aussie Locker #xd-27527 front 5.29's Front And Rear 35 x 12.5 x 15 B.F.Goodrich KO's Micky Thompson Classic II Wheels 1955 Harley Davidson Springer Stock 1955 Hardtail Frame 4 Speed Kick Start Only Streached 5.5 gal. tanks 16" Ape Hangers 3" open primary "Three People Can Keep A Secret If Two Peolpe Are Dead" Benjamin Franklin

07-23-2008, 05:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
904_runner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,241	There is a fuel pulsation dampner on the end of the fuel rail underneath the intake plenum on the passenger side. Idk about yours but there is a little screw under the cap and it fell out of mine and caused it to catch on fire. Might want to check that. __________________ -Mike 1990 4runner SR5, 3.0 with 250K, 5-speed, 4.56 gears, warn premium hubs, Hella 500's, Rancho 9000's, 33X12.50's crappy dunlop tires, rear lock right, 4" trailmaster lift with lc coils in rear, panhard drop bracket Soon to come: New wheels and tires, Sliders, CB. One Day: 3.4 swap! www.myspace.com/222948743

07-23-2008, 06:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	Is there anyway to check the injector seals without removing them? __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-23-2008, 07:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	anyone? __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-24-2008, 12:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
88runnertx Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 7	I've heard about leaky fuel dampners being the cause for such a smell. I'm having the same issue with my '88 3vze and I believe it is either the dampner--I'm not a mechanic, anybody got a pic or diagram or where the dampner is--or the fuel injectors are not installed correctly or are leaking. I'm curious to know what is involved with fixing injectors seals too, or the dampner possibility. Waiting for yota gurus/yodas to reply. Last edited by 88runnertx : 07-24-2008 at 12:25 PM.

07-24-2008, 12:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
904_runner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,241	right around here for that fuel pulsation dampner Need anything else just ask. __________________ -Mike 1990 4runner SR5, 3.0 with 250K, 5-speed, 4.56 gears, warn premium hubs, Hella 500's, Rancho 9000's, 33X12.50's crappy dunlop tires, rear lock right, 4" trailmaster lift with lc coils in rear, panhard drop bracket Soon to come: New wheels and tires, Sliders, CB. One Day: 3.4 swap! www.myspace.com/222948743

07-24-2008, 12:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
mike92runnerSR5 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 156	x3 on the pulsation dampner...had same smell...that was the cause..

07-24-2008, 12:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
904_runner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,241	Oh to answer your question, it depends on what is wrong. No clue about the injectors, but for the dampener, the only two things i can think of is that it might be leaking from around the rim, or the screw fell out. If its the lip you will have to buy a new one. I personally just put red locktight on the screw and put it back in cause that was the problem with mine. Either way, it looks like you are pulling off the plenum and looking around. Make sure you take care of it before it catches on fire, you don't want this happening! GOod luck! __________________ -Mike 1990 4runner SR5, 3.0 with 250K, 5-speed, 4.56 gears, warn premium hubs, Hella 500's, Rancho 9000's, 33X12.50's crappy dunlop tires, rear lock right, 4" trailmaster lift with lc coils in rear, panhard drop bracket Soon to come: New wheels and tires, Sliders, CB. One Day: 3.4 swap! www.myspace.com/222948743 Last edited by 904_runner : 07-24-2008 at 01:01 PM.

07-24-2008, 05:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	Thanks guys. That definately gives me a place to start checking. __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-24-2008, 06:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
904_runner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,241	Maybe there should be a recall since this seems common! __________________ -Mike 1990 4runner SR5, 3.0 with 250K, 5-speed, 4.56 gears, warn premium hubs, Hella 500's, Rancho 9000's, 33X12.50's crappy dunlop tires, rear lock right, 4" trailmaster lift with lc coils in rear, panhard drop bracket Soon to come: New wheels and tires, Sliders, CB. One Day: 3.4 swap! www.myspace.com/222948743

07-24-2008, 10:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
904_runner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chico, California Posts: 1,241	See my above pics! Thats what caused that so You got lucky! It was soo depressing for me, 16yrs old, first vehicle, catches on fire on the way home before i even got to drive it . Luckly, my grandfather was a mechanic so we ended up fixing it in the driveway with the help from the family! Only good outcome is i know a bit about the engine now! Now its just a braging thing! "250,000 miles, 3.slow, original headgaskets, been through a fire, you know its a toyota thing, lets see your "insert brand of vehicle here" do that!" __________________ -Mike 1990 4runner SR5, 3.0 with 250K, 5-speed, 4.56 gears, warn premium hubs, Hella 500's, Rancho 9000's, 33X12.50's crappy dunlop tires, rear lock right, 4" trailmaster lift with lc coils in rear, panhard drop bracket Soon to come: New wheels and tires, Sliders, CB. One Day: 3.4 swap! www.myspace.com/222948743

07-25-2008, 04:14 AM	#16 (permalink)
Gavy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Roaring Spring, Pa Posts: 101	I don't know about the 3vze but just last week on my 22RE I had to replace the fuel sending unit located on top of the fuel tank because of a leak however I noticed the gas smell 3-4 days straight before the leak opened up enough to actually let the fuel drip on the ground try and see if the smell is stronger back near the gas tank area __________________ 1994 DX 4x4 X-Tra cab 55K original miles Eclipse Cd player Infinity Reference speakers Painted grill Black K & N FIPK Mobil 1 Mobileclean 5000- Purolator Filter

07-26-2008, 08:24 AM	#17 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	Can't smell a thing towards the back of the truck. It is definitely coming from under the hood. The smell is strongest on the passenger side. Again, thanks for all the tips guys. Hopefully I can find this thing soon. I bought a fire extinguisher yesterday...just in case! __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-27-2008, 05:49 AM	#19 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	From what I can tell this is where it is coming from. Plan is to clean it all up today and let it run for a while and see for sure. But when I run my finger across it, there is more gas than oil. Anybody know what this is? It looks like it's just a fitting? __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.

07-27-2008, 07:36 AM	#20 (permalink)
sts2usnss Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 211	Woohoo! Gunk degreaser was on sale for $1.67 a can! So I stocked up. Now I have everything nice and shiny under the hood. Once it dries I'll go out and crank it and let it run for a while and see if I can actually find this leak. Again, any help with letting me know what the above pic is would be great. I think it's just a fitting but then I'm an electronics guy. Under no circumstance do I consider myself mechanically inclined..lol. __________________ 1990 4Runner, 31X10.50 Treadwright MTG's, Flowmaster exhaust, Skyjacker Nitro shocks, K&N filter, Weston push bar. I got your Jeep thing...Now it hurts when I pee.