Gas smell after ride

1999 VFR FI, after a ride, when parked in the garage, it smells like raw gas for a few hours and then goes away. I checked the filler cap gasket, and it seems fine (looks good and no smell there). The fill level on the tank does not seem to make any difference. No apparent leaks. Any ideas?

 

My 94 does the same thing although it is worse when the engine temp is quite warm and put it in the garage right away. Never have figured it out.

I know, not much help but it does seem to be a somewhat common occurence but not sure if it is on your generation...

 

Could just be the fuel vapour venting after the hot engine continues to heat and expand the fuel in the tank. The vent tube exits near the bottom of the bike

 

You most likely have a cracked head gasket....


Kidding!


Mine smells sometimes as well after a long ride.. especially when I park it in an enclosed area... its not that strong but its definitly there. I never paid much attention though because i've never lost any gas.

 

Mine gives off the same smell....I agree with post 3 though. She's just venting after a good ride!

 

Kingsley nailed it!

 

I'd prefer the smell of gas than the smell of burnt leaves that comes from my bike when I stop due to the catalytic converters..... Actually come to think of it, i haven't smelled it in a while.

Off subject but Derstuka's exhaust smells better than any other VFR out there, he must be running slick fiddy with his gas.

 

Strong Gas Smell

Me Too.. Mine's a 2006 VFR abs. i get a real strong wiff of gas when sitting at a traffic light, after only a mile of driving in CA in 70's temp... also in the garage at home every day... after only 8miles drive back home..

If I undo the gas tank cap, i get a big 'swhoosh' as pressure is releaved.. and and the associated wiff of gas..

does this give anyone a clue?

gas tank under pressure.. but why? why doesn't gas tank relief valve just gradually let the air pressure out? Why the build up?

any clues anyone?

 

OK, ive had this problem on 2 differant bikes with 2 differant out comes.

firstly does the fuel smell linger all the time when the bike is parked up?

if so you could have a fuel leakage problem.

if your wife complains "the garage stinks of petrol'( like mine did)...then this is a good indicator!

on the first bike, a classic 82 GPz 550, it had a pinhole leak in the gas tank.
and when i say pinhole, i mean PIN hole.that sucker was miniscule.
solution was to get the inside of the tank 'creamed', which is like a sealing solution. i got my dealer to do this as i didnt want to stuff it up..

the second time was like De Ja Vu...cept it was on my Gen 4 VFR.

this time there was a tiny split in the fuel line hose right where it joins the fuel filter. it leaked underneath the side cover which was hiding it, and it collected in the foamy pad on the inside of the side cover ,which was there to cushion the filter from the inside of the cover.

eventually it started to distort the plastic sidecover.

the fix was simple...shorten the hose by half an inch and refit the clamps onto a new piece of hose that wasnt damaged.

if you keep smelling petrol you should start checkin evrything in the fuel system....there will be signs where its leaking.

a good friend once showed me a trick to help find fluid leaks.

start with the bike bone dry... then fire talcum powder all over it. the talc will stick and change colour wherever it contacts liquid.
its a good way to check for leaks.

of course you need to wash it all off afterwards...but she sure smells nice.:tongue:

 

Many thanks.. will get the talc out..
Wife'll probably complain about the missing talc .. but beter than an exploding Bike in the garage i guess...

 

Nice one, had a '82 GPz550h2 as my first new bike in '83 and it was a great go anywhere thing, here it is packed on a road trip.... :smile:

 

Loaded question.

I weigh 260 lbs. My wife is 120. My saddle bags and top Box weigh about 20lbs. My helmits and clothes together weigh 10lbs..

Total. 410lbs.

This is overloading the bike according to the spec. And i have got any luggage packed at this point...

Any ideas how to improve this?

And, please dont tell me to go Jogging : )

 

re. Strong Gas Smell Thread

Stuck flots in my carbs cant be my problem as i have a 2006 with Fuel Injection...

Any more ideas?

cheers
P

 

You shouldn't have pressure (or vacuum) in the tank. Check the fuel vent hose for a kink or restriction

 

yeah...nice one john:thumbsup: i came of my twin shock 8 valve Z 550 onto the unitrak, 16 valve H2 and thought id died and gone to heavan...

 

well...if you cant reduce the overall wieght Load then you are only left with 2 alternatives

1. Ohlins shock set up for the load factor you mention above. (honestly this is not ideal, but it is a compromise).

2. a far beter option is to get one of these....


honda ST 13000 oughta handle that load with ease.

honestly it doesnt have to be one of these but perhaps a seperate bike for this task is the best option?

 

here are some pics to illustrate the fuel leak problem i had on my 4th gen..

the fuel started to leak from the joint area at the top of the fuel filter where the line had developed a split


the fuel then leaked down into the protective foam on the inside of the cover where it collected and promoted the fumes and petrol stink..


and as a result of leaving it too long to find the fault, the side cover devolped a lump on the outside where the fuel was collecting (on the inside) and slowly started to soften and deform the plastic.


the moral of the story being...

if you smell petrol...consistantly.. it normally means theres a reason....and you should find out why...:thumbsup: