Bit wet in the neighborhood and wasn't paying attention to the green light and so I accidentally broke loose.

I then was able to smell the odor of gasoline. I figured it was due to another vehicle or a spill, but could it have been me?

The fuel tank, btw, was at about 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank full. So, mostly empty.

I ask because I get very bad gas mileage and although I generally have a non "lead foot", I thought maybe this is a symptom pointing to something wrong with the fuel system.

Cheers.

 

I've heard reports here of trucks in the rust-belt getting slush, etc. on top of the fuel tank. It rusts out the top of the tank or the return lines. A small hole in the top of the tank (or a broken evap line) could allow fuel to slosh out.

If you were in California, smog testing includes an evap test (the tank is pressurized to confirm no leaks; OBD II vehicles have this built-in). Short of that, have you ever removed the gas cap on a warm day? Did fumes rush out? If not, you have a leak in the tank or evap line.

 

I live in Seattle, but this is still helpful. If it's leaking, it's leaking while running, which makes me wonder where I should begin to look.

 

Well, a well sealed system should not leak any fumes, or of course gasoline.

So, do you smell gasoline any other time? Or just that one time and only after you spun out?

 

I've never smelled gas, but I've also never really looked for it.

 

I'm going to see if I can reproduce the gas odor. My wonder is whether it would be likely to be from the engine compartment or the tank. If I'm detecting it in the cab, my hunch is that it would be in the engine compartment.

 

Check your EVAP canister and see if any lines are pulled loose there.

 

Tell me...How do you break away on accident in a yota? lol C'mon now man. It'd require at least a three grand clutch drop and you just dont do that without meaning too lol

 

Believe it or not, Seattle is pretty dry in the summer. This was new rain, oily pavement, nothing in the bed. And...I was not paying attention to the light which had just turned green, so, was trying to move quickly.

 

How do you plan on trying to reproduce it? D maybe there is a tool to test pressure in the fuel evap system. Something you can get on loan from a parts store.?

 

check your fuel lines up behind the tank. Mine recently rusted out but it would gush out not just dribble. While you are there check the brake lines too.

 

Break it loose, of course! Though I'd be surprised if I could pull it off.

 

Check the brake lines for what?

 

rust

 

touche!

 

Just had a chance to refill and upon opening the gas tank there was a sucking sound similar to a vacuum being equalized.

So, good on that front.

I've also checked my hoses under the hood and they all look secure, though I'll need to look again more methodically.

 

Sucking? That's bad. The "vented" fuel cap allows air in (otherwise, the fuel pump would either crush the tank as it emptied, or more likely, would eventually not be able to pump against the vacuum). It does not allow fumes (or any gas) out; that's what goes to the evap canister.

So you should hear fumes escaping, not sucking, as the tank is lightly pressurized by the evaporating fuel.

Of course, what you describe as a "sucking sound" might be fumes escaping.

 

Well it looks like I'll have to pay more attention to it next time.

 

I had it backwards. checked again today and it was pressurized, not a vacuum.