Fuel smell on startup

[mcnea001]

Hello:

 

I have a 1995 Subaru Legacy with EJ22 and about 198,000 miles.

 

Car runs great with no starting issues.

 

When I start the vehicle in the mornings (now that it is getting colder) I get a raw fuel smell in the cabin.   It smell like fuel is leaking but I cannot find the culprit.   Once warm it disappears.  No check engine lights.

 

I have viewed a bunch of threads that recommend replacing the Coolant Temp Sensor.   I do not have any idle or starting issues so I am not sure replacing the Coolant Temp Sensor will fix the problem. 

 

Other threads have indicated it may be the evap canister.   How would I troubleshoot that?

 

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.   My wife hates the smell :-)

 

Tom

[Downbound]

Had the same problem with my 02 outback...smell of gas at start up but only when the temp was cold. Turned out the clamps needed to be tightened on the fuel line. 

[1 Lucky Texan]

^^^ +1

 

have had to tighten (philips screwdriver) clamps on both my cars for cool weather gas smell.

[3Pin]

If no Check engine lights for a temp sensor or black wet sputtering exhaust, then ditto on the fuel clamps.

[vtwinjunkie]

Same thing happened to my 05 outback. Do a google search for outback fuel clamps or the like.

 

I found this pretty quickly it might help you find it.

 

 

very common for our cars. 

 

Not sure if that link showed up. 

Edited November 29, 2017 by vtwinjunkie

[mcnea001]

Thanks all!   Tightened up the fuel clamps and no more smell.   Easiest fix ever!

 

Tom

[Bushwick]

If the smell returns, check the hard lines under the back seat area, above the tank. I have a 95' wagon, and mine were accessible after pulling the seat bottom forward. I have roughly the same mileage as yours and it's seen plenty of Ohio winters. The actual hard lines (for the fuel return on mine IIRC) can rot around this area, and are hard to see unless under the car or a heavy drip starts ahead of the driver's rear tire.