Luvn737s Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 (edited) After driving my 98 Forester a while, a moderately strong smell of gasoline develops. It does not smell when the car is parked overnight and isn’t strong enough to smell when at highway speed. When you come to a light you smell it. Occasionally if the car sits it’s hard to start, as if there is air in the fuel line especially if parked uphill. No CEL. It doesn’t seem related to fuel level. It does seem related to the fuel system being pressurized. Edited January 8, 2019 by Luvn737s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1 Lucky Texan Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 many soobs will seep some fuel as they age - and it doesn't take much to smell strongly. tighten any fuel clamps you can find under the hood. there have been people with rusted filler pipes and cracked pump assemblies, etc. , but, start by looking around under the hood for drips or wetness on fuel system parts. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted January 8, 2019 Share Posted January 8, 2019 If the above doesn't solve the problem, remove the rear seat and look/sniff around. My newer Outback had me smelling gasoline and the problem was a failing fuel pump gasket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvn737s Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Also no dripping after driving. My guess is something related to pressurized fuel. I looked at the sender and pump gaskets but no obvious staining. Fuel filter and rail attachments are secure. If the tank pressurized when it’s running maybe it leaks along the tank or filler neck but I’m not seeing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
potter2010 Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 9 hours ago, 1 Lucky Texan said: many soobs will seep some fuel as they age - and it doesn't take much to smell strongly. tighten any fuel clamps you can find under the hood. I had a similar gas smell on my 2001 Legacy but only in the winter and when idling or driving slowly. On advice from the forum I went around and tightened things up and it went away. I wasn't leaking anything but enough vapours were escaping somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirtokesalot Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 ive seen the hose clamps on the filter leak from being loose on 3 different outbacks so far id check there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvn737s Posted January 9, 2019 Author Share Posted January 9, 2019 Yep even replaced the filter and gas cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john in KY Posted January 9, 2019 Share Posted January 9, 2019 May as well also check the FPR. Just pull the hose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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