Cold Starting Fuel Smell

[SnatchCritic]

I have read a lot on various bulletin boards about fuel smells coming
thru the vents when starting the vehicle in the morning. They all
seem to lead to a fuel line leak at the hose connections primarily due
to the cold temps.

I have noticed this smell recently and plan on checking for a fuel
leak myself.

What are your thoughts on the fuel line leaks?


- Remove 123 to reply directly

 

[mulder]

A relevant thread on NASIOC you may or may not have read-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131755

This is a well-known issue on the 02's covered by a Subaru TSB. They
will do the repair for free only if you are still under the 3/36
warranty, otherwise you are expected to pay for it. It is not an
inexpensive repair because the intake manifold has to be removed in
order to access the lines that need to be replaced.
Although this really should have been a safety recall it hasn't
happened, NHTSA has investigated and somehow not deemed it serious
enough for a full recall.
When you check your car you may or may not actually see where the leak
is coming from, in severe cases there will be a small puddle of fuel on
the engine block right by the turbo inlet hose, next to the lines that
are leaking. In other cases you will smell the fuel but not see
anything. The problem typically happens only when the temperature gets
very cold, in the teens or below, and generally goes away after a bit of
driving.

 

[WisedUp]

A relevant thread on NASIOC you may or may not have read-
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=131755

This is a well-known issue on the 02's covered by a Subaru TSB. They
will do the repair for free only if you are still under the 3/36
warranty, otherwise you are expected to pay for it. It is not an
inexpensive repair because the intake manifold has to be removed in
order to access the lines that need to be replaced.
Although this really should have been a safety recall it hasn't
happened, NHTSA has investigated and somehow not deemed it serious
enough for a full recall.
When you check your car you may or may not actually see where the leak
is coming from, in severe cases there will be a small puddle of fuel on
the engine block right by the turbo inlet hose, next to the lines that
are leaking. In other cases you will smell the fuel but not see
anything. The problem typically happens only when the temperature gets
very cold, in the teens or below, and generally goes away after a bit of
driving.

Interesting . . . I have a 2005 Forester here in Florida and I have noticed a
fuel smell on startup whenever the overnight temp falls into the 40s or lower
50s. Maybe they haven't yet corrected the cause of the fuel. It's over 40 miles
to my dealer, so this will have to wait until I need to go there for regular
service.

 

[mulder]

I don't think you have the same issue, the problem on the WRX is
specific to the 02's and has to do with two small rubber hoses that join
metal fuel lines together and leak in extreme cold. The fuel system
setup on your Forester would be different especially if it isn't an XT.
It is also important to make the distinction of where the smell is
coming from. If the fuel mixture is very rich on initial startup there
may be a fuel smell from the exhaust, this is not a dangerous condition
and will go away in a few minutes as the engine warms up and the mixture
begins to lean out (and the catalytic converters start working). A leak
of raw fuel from somewhere in the fuel system is another matter altogether.
I don't think you should wait too long to get this attended to if you
suspect an actual fuel leak. Is there a closer dealer, you don't have to
go back to where you bought it.

 

[Dave Blizzard]

Does anyone know the actual TSB # for this problem or know where I could
find it on the net? I have an 02 Outback with this problem in cold
weather. Thanks.
Dave.

 

[mulder]

The TSB only applies to the 02 WRX, it does not apply to other Imprezas
or the OB.

 

[tom klein]

i get the same problem on an '02 legacy wagon, especially on a cold
morning. i try not to crack the heater open until the engine warms up
a bit. i had thought that it was just the engine running a little rich
on startup.

a real fuel leak sounds a lot more serious.