Petrol Smell in VP

[stevejiang]

Hi Guys,

I know very very little about car and I am hoping all you VN & VP lovers can help me with my problem.

My issue started with my car not able to start the engine every now in the past few weeks and it was also running rough. As the cheapest option, I decided to change the spark plugs. This was my first experience changing the plugs, since then inside the car has a very strong petrol smell.

I have searched the forum and done a bit of read, I notice that most users here suggest that is most likely is the pipe where the fuel tank is. Because I'm inexperience I'm not so confident in doing so, although I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

I guess my question is.
1. If the spare plug is not installed/fitted correctly can the smell be coming from there?
2. If is the pipe that I mentioned, how much will it roughly cost for replacement if I were to do it myself and How much will it roughly cost for a mechanic to do the service so that I don't get ripped off.

ALSO. On the day that I changed the spare plug I took it for a drive off course. When I came back open the bonnet and noticed that something is burning on the pipe near the spark plugs. Is as if some oil has drop on the pipe and is burning it. See img below.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
www.adrive

[mischa]

I would say the petrol smell would be your breather hoses. The pipe your talking about is fairly cheap around $10? But you need to do all the hoses around that pipe to, for that just get a few meters of it from repco or somthing.

These are what mine look like now,

My 1989 VN.

[stevejiang]

nice ride mischa..
hmm...it looks like I might have to get my hands dirty..i was really hoping i could avoid it..

thanks for the quick reply mischa...if it turns out no the hoses what other areas in the car that might be cause the problem?

[v6lux]

I had a VN that the petrol was leaking out of the Carbon Canister next to the radiator. For some reason it wouldn't stop leaking. Have a look there.

[pow3rslave]

when you say it's running rough, is it all the time, or just after start up.
it could be an injector leaking into the cylinder when the cars' off.

[GenReaper]

Check the main fuel feed rubber line at the back of the motor on the passenger side near the firewall, its common for these to perish after time.
My old VP Berlina did it and i had the same smell.

[stevejiang]

I had a VN that the petrol was leaking out of the Carbon Canister next to the radiator. For some reason it wouldn't stop leaking. Have a look there.

Hmm...Would I be able to smell it if is from the Carbon Canister next to the raidator?? Coz when I open the bonnet, I can't smell any petrol.

when you say it's running rough, is it all the time, or just after start up.
it could be an injector leaking into the cylinder when the cars' off.

Well before I charge the spark plugs, at low speed and after engine is started up it usually make popping noise. Also even after I change the spark plugs, I notice that when I hit 90k and above, every now and it feel like the engine is pulling back. It feels almost like when you're learning to drive manual for the first time and you can’t get the timing correctly.

Check the main fuel feed rubber line at the back of the motor on the passenger side near the firewall, its common for these to perish after time.
My old VP Berlina did it and i had the same smell.

This is located where the engine bay are or do i need to take the covers out inside the car??



Oh I forget to mention that my VP is convereted. is running both LPG/Petrol

[Shortstuff]

Also check fuel feed and return lines on either side of the fuel rail at the rear of the rail. They have o-rings there that are pretty common to leak. Also the clamp on the return line where it comes off the fuel rail has a tendency to leak.

[stevejiang]

did a check over the weekend, found out that one of the spark plugs was not tighten properly. I could see a tiny little petrol pop out from it...damn that was dangerous....smell is gone since I tighten it, having come back for days..

ALL GOOD. Thank for everybody help and tips.