smelling gasoline fumes....

[dlmwtvl]

I took my 65 Skylark for a ride today, and it seemed I could smell gasoline fumes the whole ride...
I put the car in my daylight basement, and now I smell fumes in the house!!
I looked the vehicle over and there is no fuel leaking anywhere..
Is there anything I should look for with the gas tank vent??
Has anyone had this problem with their 65 Buick??

[Mister T]

I would check the fuel lines from the pump to the carb, and all other fuel lines. Oh, move the car outside if possible. Gasoline fumes can be deadly.

[elagache]

Dear dlmwtvl, Tom, and mid-60 Buick troubleshooters,

I took my 65 Skylark for a ride today, and it seemed I could smell gasoline fumes the whole ride...

If you can smell the gasoline in the cabin, that suggests the leak is ahead of the windshield so that it can get into cabin one way or another.  So you might start your search in the engine bay.

Has anyone had this problem with their 65 Buick??

I don't think it is a common problem - fortunately!  Still hoses do wear out and fail.  I have had a gas line fail and start leaking onto the carburetor while driving.  It made a lot of smoke but fortunately didn't fully ignite.

Oh, move the car outside if possible. Gasoline fumes can be deadly.

Definitely be careful with gasoline leaks.   At the very least keep the car well ventilated.

Cheers, Edouard

[JimL65]

Where are you located in Maine? I think I can smell the fumes down here in Western Ma!

[Rollaround]

Many very nice classic cars have been lost to fuel fires. A very small leak, just a few drops on warm engine can generate very strong odors. As mentioned, I would not park inside, certainly not in a basement garage, gas fumes settle and travel downward.
Start at the car carborator and work your way back to the tank. Look for staining caused by fuel.  Check The rubber hoses first then steel lines.
Small leaks can be tough to find. Good luck. Keep a fire extinguisher close by.

[Mister T]

Another possibility would be the filler neck is leaking where it enters the fuel tank.

[Brian]

I have seen two things cause this.  One is a failed fuel pump diaphragm that is pumping fuel into the crankcase (easy to diagnose--oil level will be too high).  The other is a small hole rusted in the metal suction line that runs along the frame from the fuel tank to the pump, or a hole in one of the hoses at each end of this line.   Any other kind of fuel problem you will see fuel dripping or spraying somewhere.