strong smell of gas around my truck.

This is my first ever question I'm new to this site. Recently I've noticed a strong smell of gas around my truck. I thought the cap wasn't venting so I barely put it on, and that helped. However now its back again. Its now longer got a lot of pressure on it, but the gas smell is still very strong. Any help with this would really be appreciated. Thanks

 

Where do you smell it from? The front, rear, in the cab. Is the truck hard to start at all? Fuel pulsation dampener, fuel pressure reg, fuel filter maybe. Just did a quick search on yahoo and seems to be a common issue on 3.0L's

 

I have a similar problem. i notice it when i exit my truck. The problem with mine is the evaporator canister. Mine is fucked and for some reason instead of sending my fuel fumes to the engine to burn off they are venting to the atmosphere. 360.00 dollars to replace or i clear the check engine light once a week and deal with a little gas smell every now and then.

 

Likely from topping off the tank.
Fill it until it clicks and you're done.

 

I've never topped off any tank. I bought this eight months ago and the code came up two days later. PO was an old guy so i imagine he did it.

 

Fuel leaks in the Tacoma are VERY common. The culprit of where that fuel could be coming from from are vast. The leak could be coming from the gas cap, corrosion from the fuel filler neck where the gas cap mates to the truck, the fuel tank gasket, fuel filter, the Charcoal Canister. The only real way to track it down is to have a smoke test done at a service shop. The leak may be minuscule and even the smallest needle point leak will cause the sensors to go off. My suggestion, spend the $70-$80 to have a Smoke Test done, find out for certain where the leak is coming from and decide if the truck can be operated with no issues or pay to have to part replaced. Or you can get a smoke test done, and just deal with the CEL by clearing the code out yourself. Lots of options.

 

My code doesn't affect fuel mileage or performance so i clear mine every time it pops up. About twice a week. Smartphones are great tools.

 

Check the purge valve. It's not the most expensive thing and can cause the you to smell fuel.

 

Try this stuff. It works great for getting rid of gas

 

That's the first thing i replaced. it was cheap but not the cause. i'm going to set up a smoke test and hope the find something small.

 

Charcoal canister!!!!!

 

how do you clear it from your smartphone?

 

360.00 dollars!!!! i'd rather pay 70.00 when it's in getting the front end looked at to make sure.

There is an app called Torque. Download it. Go on ebay and buy a Bluetooth OBD II scanner for like ten bucks. Run the app and there is an option to check codes and clear them.

 

Yep charcoal canister it's pricey, my friend had the same problem as you and it was the charcoal canister he couldn't stand the smell of gas as it gets worst. Good luck

 

Just went thru this on my 2002, at first it did not throw a code but I could smell the gas near the bed of the truck. More so on the driver side.
The truck has 131,000 miles on it. I read a lot about the charcoal canister could be the problem (cost a lot 300.00 from the dealer).
So I replaced it, the code came back and still the strong gas smell, worse with a lot of gas in the tank. The code said it could be the gas cap, so I replaced it, no change. I finally read a post from someone who had this problem and when they dropped the tank the seals around the full pump and the check valve were leaking gas on too the top of the tank.
I bought all of the seals that go on the top of the tank (not to bad on cost) from the dealer and a new over flow check valve (it is cheap). When I dropped the tank, sure enough you could see were the fuel had been leaking on top of the tank and drying out. When I was pulling off the vapor/fuel lines two of them broke, so I got some new lines at the auto store. Not pre-formed but not required. Put it back together and the smell is all gone and no more codes.
Save your self some money and wait on the canister. A few others also added to the thread and said they had the same thing happen with the leaking seals. Also if you have not done it replace your fuel filter on the rail under the driver side door.
A mech at a local toyota truck shop told me he replaces lots of seals on the tank and very few canisters.

If you don't have a scanner to clear the code, unhook the batt for a few min.

Sorry, missed the part about the phone app.

Chuck

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Going to take a look tomorrow after work. I hope this is my problem also.

 

I have the same problem. I was thinking I should get the seals be for I pull the bed.And maybe a fuel pump while its off.How did this work out for you?

 

I filled my fuel tank up, cleared my codes and drove around town doing errands. No fuel on the top of my tank anywhere. Almost on empty and haven't thrown a code. odd, seeing as i use to have to clear the code every two days. Going to try a different fuel cap if the codes pop up again before i just break down and buy the damn canister.