Oppo, help me diagnose a problem

"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
02/01/2018 at 13:15 • Filed to: Toyota

This on on my wife’s car.

2010 Corolla, 1.8, 108k on the clock.

There’s a smell of gas when the car has been idling. When driving, you do not smell anything out of the ordinary.

Gas cap is good, and is not the source of the problem

The car is not throwing any codes.

Roughly around the same time the gas smell started, I changed the plugs. The only thing I can think of right now is that maybe one of the coil packs got damaged when I did the plugs. But there’s no miss or hesitation that a damaged coil pack would indicate.

Maybe the Evap canister?

Not sure what else it could be. Maybe I should just buy !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and go hunting in the engine bay?

DISCUSSION (21)

benjrblant > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 13:30

Sounds like the charcoal/evap canister. Evaporating fuel lingers but its blown away when driving. There should be a procedure in the FSM for testing it.

You could narrow the source down further by determining if the odor is centered around the tailpipe or the canister.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 13:33

I had something similar. I never diagnosed it correctly. Shop couldn’t replicate.

EL_ULY > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 13:37

those fuel lines run underneath the car. Locate them, trace them from the tank to the engine and see if maybe one is damaged. Check for wet spots on the line and the connection points on the fuel filter and regulator

Stapleface > Future next gen S2000 owner
02/01/2018 at 13:41

Well damn. That’s no good. lol

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 13:42

I had a subaru impreza that all of a sudden smelled like fuel. Turns out the rubber hose to steel fuel line connections around the fuel rail were loose. I tightened them up and everything was fine.

Stapleface > benjrblant
02/01/2018 at 13:43

Youtube was actually no help to me on this one, which is surprising. I usually find a step by step for everything. I guess it’s off to find a repair manual.

95% sure the origination of the smell is in the engine bay.

Stapleface > EL_ULY
02/01/2018 at 13:45

Fairly certain it’s not a bad fuel line as I’ve noticed no leaks or loss of gas. But, I haven’t gone over everything with a fine tooth comb. I guess I could run some UV dye through and see if I see any leaks.

Stapleface > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/01/2018 at 13:49

Never even considered the line feeding the fuel rail. Good thinking!

benjrblant > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 13:59

Gasoline evaporates so quickly depending on temperature, its possible to have a leak and never see it.

benjrblant > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 14:00

I’m not affiliated, but if you can’t find a Toyota FSM online, Toyota will give you a PDF for $15 at https://techinfo.toyota.com

IMO, Toyota’s FSM is THE BEST manual that can be had for your car.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 14:05

Considering you’re not hearing an exhaust leak, I think the solution is one of two things:

1. repairing a slow fuel line leak

2. SBC swap

diplodicus > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 14:09

I was going to suggest checking the fuel rail out as well. I had an o-ring go bad on my fuel pressure regulator which caused fuel to leak out. It had a noticeable effect on throttle response though. Not sure how the fuel injection system is set up in a corolla.

cmill189 - sans Volvo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
02/01/2018 at 14:10

I had that happen too. It’s the perfect storm with the filter being right there by the cowl.

Wacko > benjrblant
02/01/2018 at 14:14

that’s why you find the leak with a lighter*

*end result no more leak, no more car.

Stapleface > benjrblant
02/01/2018 at 14:15

Yeah, I was just looking in to the manuals as I don’t have one. From what I gather, you can get the 2 day membership and download whatever you want for those two days?

Stapleface > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
02/01/2018 at 14:16

Somehow I don’t think my wife would be on board with the reduced fuel economy.

And, the last thing I’d want is for her to have more power anyway, as she has a lead foot as it is.

Stapleface > diplodicus
02/01/2018 at 14:18

I don’t drive her car all that often. But, I did drive it last night and I swear I could feel a slight difference in overall throttle response. I guess I’ll look at the fuel rail first and then go from there.

benjrblant > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 14:36

Yeah, I think that’s how it works. Might as well d/l all of em!

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Stapleface
02/01/2018 at 17:07

You could get one of those SBCs with Active Fuel Management/DOD and program/tune it to be in 4 cylinder mode all the time!

That’ll fix it!

Long-Voyager > Stapleface
03/29/2018 at 12:43

Oh come on, that much power in that car, it’s likely get better mileage if she could keep her foot out of it.

Long-Voyager > Stapleface
03/29/2018 at 12:45

Check for leaks around your fuel rail. A mild leak can produce a fuel smell, while not being noticeable in mileage.

Fuel also evaporates quickly, so a small leak can give a smell without noticing the leak.

I just went through this on my van: https://long-voyager.kinja.com/fuel-rail-leaking-need-help-1823271652

Didn’t notice the leak until I was fixing other things.