Faint smell of petrol

[lucasmax]

well what the title says really, iv noticed a distinct but faint petrol smell when im driving, its there in all driving conditions, not just when the young mad lad comes out in me and i 'sharply' accelerate

what can be the cause (if any)

also, i dont know if its related or not, but recently when im pulling away the car seems to be dieing on me. but its fine after a few minutes. any one care to guess whats up?

oh the car is a m reg k11, 76 k miles, needs the exhaust doing, and one of the cv joint gators.

 

[k11micra]

Have you fitted a new air filter lately, cos a blocked filter can cause the car to use more fuel and it will stink, it will also leave it down on power.

another possibility is the flexible hoses attached to the fuel filter being damaged

 

[lucasmax]

a few months ago i fitted a cone filter, but the smells only been happin for about 2weeks or so.

 

[getawaycar]

From what you say, it sounds like you can spell the exhaust blow. Exhaust fumes can contain unburnt fuel, depends where its blowing really but thats probably what you can smell.

I'd get it sorted soon as if you can smell the exhaust when you drive the car, chances are you are inhaling some of the nastier gasses from the exhaust like CO. It doesn't smell of anything but is pretty good at killing people.

 

[getawaycar]

Sorry, 'smell the exhaust blow' not 'spell the exhaust blow'! D'oh!

 

[pollyp]

also check the fuel tank access panel under the rear seat too for leaks or if the foam seal strip has gone