Hi,

I have been using my doblo for a week or two now and have started to smell petrol after using the car when I get out.

It is a very strong smell, I am not to sure where it is coming from but it was strong enough for it to be mentioned to the security officers at work and reported to me.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

unimatrix0 said:

Hi,

I have been using my doblo for a week or two now and have started to smell petrol after using the car when I get out.

It is a very strong smell, I am not to sure where it is coming from but it was strong enough for it to be mentioned to the security officers at work and reported to me.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,
it wants investigating further - sooner rather than later

ok,
basically there is a small electric pump under the back seat area - that pumps fuel up to the engine - in plastic tubes / hoses

these hoses tend to have plastic push-on connectors - (similar to a garden hose system)

the obvious thing is if a joint has failed,

when the engine is COLD..!! and key OUT / power OFF,
petrol is VERY highly flammable - so no sparks / smoking..

I would CAREFULLY, lift the bonnet , and see if there is any obviously damp / petrol smelling areas

as you stand at front of car , by headlights , the fuel area is BEHIND the engine top - fairly central in the car - there is often a LIGHT BLUE hose to the left side of car - RHS as you look,
that's supplying the fuel to the engine - so 1st obvious place.


see where the BLUE hose plugs in,
BELOW it is the BLACK fuel rail,
if you look carefully there is a cast plastic "gutter" under the join.., this does capture a little spilt fuel when the joint fails / leaks.


at the REAR of the engine top there is a FUEL RAIL ,
that directs the fuel into the engines cylinders,
it's a BLACK plastic , with often a RED cap at the LHS as you look

these are the 2 x most obvious common places,
IF they look clean /dry,

BRIEFY turn the IGN key to the position where the dash lights up - if you carefully listen , there will be a buzz / humm from under the back seat - this is the fuel pump - it should normally only run for 5/10 seconds,
after this time turn it off,
then have another look under the bonnet.

DO NOT look while the pump is running - as there is a chance the fuel is being sprayed out :yuck:- rather than dripping -

you may well find you would need specialist help to FIX an issue , but locating it should / could be possibly by sight.

Charlie - Oxford

Many thanks for your reply, the smell goes after a while is it safe to park on the public road? Could it blow up if some one walks past smoking?

As well as all the above it may be worth checking no one has tried to drill the petrol tank from below it happened to one of my cars once, the leak was slight but it did require a whole new tank and also ruined the tarmac on the drive.
If the smell goes after a while it sounds like it may be safe enough not to blow up, hopefully.

there is always a chance / risk.

TBH - the risk would be bigger to YOU - Driving the thing..,

any luck figuring out where the smell comes from..??

the fact it dissipates , seems like it's coming out under pressure when PUMPED,
once the engine is OFF - so no pumped pressure - then it stops,

the fuel tank / filler area is NOT under pressure ( generally)

so either a damaged hose under the bonnet - or under the car's body

Charlie

unimatrix0 said:

Hi,

I have been using my doblo for a week or two now and have started to smell petrol after using the car when I get out.

It is a very strong smell, I am not to sure where it is coming from but it was strong enough for it to be mentioned to the security officers at work and reported to me.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

You say you have been using it for a week, where did it come from or has it been laid up? If it's a new purchase from a dealer, first thing is to go back to them to get it sorted.


Robert G8RPI.

Hi, I have identified where the leak is coming from. The car is a wheelchair conversion and has a custom tank. At the connection to the tank is where its coming from, its such a small amount.

Interesting is it a Gowrings conversion by any chance? I have the same problem and must be a design fault as the rear spring hits the fuel filler pipe and it cracks where it goes into tank. the pipe should never be where it is in the movement area of the leaf spring! Gowrings told me its "fare ware and tear! what a load of rubbish, its dangerous design and I have reported it to VOSA!