Fuel aroma & evap codes (or lack thereof)

[Meadowlark Lemon]

Good morning everyone. I occasionally catch a whiff of what I think may be fuel aroma around the back of my 1997 Mountaineer (5.0).

The truck is rusty, so I suspect the evap line, filler neck, or maybe even the fuel tank could have some level of perforation. Or it could just be spilled fuel from the last time I filled up. Any tips on narrowing things down? I assume if any of these items had a leak of any significance I would be getting some kind of evap system code?

I never see any actual liquid fuel leaking, so I am probably making mountains out of mole hills, but I would like to get ahead of this problem before it gets any worse.

Thank you!

Andrew

 

[Meadowlark Lemon]

It has been a month, giving this thread a bump hoping someone can shed some light on whether I should expect to get an evap code if I've got a small leak in the fuel system somewhere. Maybe it is the evap canister itself...

 

[donalds]

No codes with a smell = dirty canister imo
Replace it for the repair
Its above the spare tire
How does it fill ?
Does the pump click off ?

The purge valve also gets a little grit in it sometimes and it can't close all the way I suggest checking that it is attached to the canister Clean it test it with a 9 volt battery

 

[Meadowlark Lemon]

Thanks for the information. The tanks fills & clicks off normally. I should get underneath and sniff around a little more. It is does seem to be strongest at the rear of the car vs near the filler.

 

[Pete Deering]

Thanks for the information. The tanks fills & clicks off normally. I should get underneath and sniff around a little more. It is does seem to be strongest at the rear of the car vs near the filler.

There is a vapor vent line near the filler area, that runs in the frame. You need too get underneath and inspect.

 

[410Fortune]

The charcoal canister and all Evap
Plumbing are mounted above the spare tire, likely a failed tube up there