That explains the fuel smell

"NaturallyAspirated" (NaturallyAspirated) 01/12/2015 at 12:45 • Filed to: fuel leak

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I had a slight smell of fuel in the cabin of my Subaru. A close inspection of the fuel filter area revealed this rather alarming split in the high-pressure fuel line. The underside of the line was slightly damp with fuel.

A quick trip to NAPA and $40 later (man is high-pressure fuel injection line expensive!) my car no longer smells of fuel. I replaced both the pressure and the return lines. NAPA didn't have the right size hose for the vapor return line, which doesn't look like it has any holes in it, but which I'll replace as soon as I can get a new line anyway.

I'll be really alarmed if my fuel economy goes up on the next tank...

Arben72 > NaturallyAspirated 01/12/2015 at 12:59

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I have a fuel smell when it's about 0* out. Reminds me I need to hunt it down.

twochevrons > NaturallyAspirated 01/12/2015 at 13:03

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Heh, I had a similar situation with my 850R recently. I'd been getting shockingly bad fuel economy for a while, although the trip computer was reading the usual 15-20 mpg. Caught a whiff of fuel when I was unloading the groceries one time, looked under the car and saw fuel spraying out of pinhole leaks all over the fuel filter – it looked like it had never been changed, and was beginning to rust through!

Justin Hughes > NaturallyAspirated 01/12/2015 at 13:05

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That happened to me during a long road trip in my 320i once. I wondered why my gas mileage had been cut in half. (Because mileage is all that matters, right?)

WannaBEracerR > NaturallyAspirated 01/12/2015 at 13:17

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This is a common issue with the earlier Subaru. When these lines become older they weep when it gets colder. It made no difference in gas mileage for my 2nd gen Outback after I replaced it. Just seems safer without gas fumes in the engine compartment.

Have you been to the site http://www.subaruoutback.org ? Lots of information there and troubleshooting as well. BTW, I'm guessing you have a 1st gen Outback (1996-1999) for the US) from the picture...the color looks like the Mica Ruby from that generation.

NaturallyAspirated > WannaBEracerR 01/12/2015 at 14:24

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Good guess! It's a '98 Outback with the DOHC 2.5L engine.

I have been on subaruoutback.org. I haven't posted there yet but I have taken advantage of the wealth of information there.