• I need some ideas on troubleshooting a raw fuel smell. I’ve got a ‘95 3.0 and after driving around 30 minutes or more, there is a fuel smell that seems to be emanating from the engine compartment, it seems more so from passenger side. What is a little odd is that it smells like old or wet fuel. If you’ve ever had a boat that got water in the gas you will understand what I mean. I have looked at all the fuel lines, injectors, fuel regulator, cold start injector, and other fuel lines i can see without taking off the intake and do not see any leaks. Runs perfect and my mpg seems on par. It only does it after a bit of driving, 30 min or so. When i park and turn off the car you can just smell it emanaemanating from the front. Ideas? Thanks in advance!

 

Check the Fuel Pressure Damper on the aft end of the right-hand fuel rail. I recommend finding some brown paper towels (fuel is so clear that it is hard to see on white paper towels), and place them beneath the Damper while the fuel rail is pressurized (while running is fine; or you can just run the pump with the jumper). This way you can see the few drips.

There is a rubber diaphragm in the damper that will fail at, oh, 29 years. You will see (or feel) a screw head in the middle of the damper. That's just there as a pressure indicator. Don't bother trying to "tighten" it; that will do nothing be wreck the diaphragm.