Fuel smell

[medicwithboat]

I have a 1993 Playtime 20' Bow Rider with the fuel tank in the bow. When taking the cover off it has a bad fuel smell. You have to let it air out for 15+ min before you can get in it. Also, when walking by the port side fuel tank vent, the smell is very strong with the cover on or off. The smell seems to be the same on hot days as well as cool days. I have not noticed any loss of fuel nor can I detect any leakage or cracks down the fuel line.

My local servicer says this is normal. None of the other boats that I have been around have this problem. Any ideas?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Fuel smell

If your vent is working you will be able to smell fuel there. With cover on, does the cover come down past the vent and trap vapors in under it?

Normal.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Fuel smell

My idea is that the tank may have a leak. If so, that is a really bad thing in a boat.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Fuel smell

could you disconnect fuel line at motor- seal vent -& pressure test at the cap?--just an idea.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Fuel smell

Fuel smell is caused by vapors. Vapors are volital(sp)/ explosive.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Fuel smell

fuel smell is caused by vapors. Vapors are volital(sp)/ explosive.

volatile

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Fuel smell

I knew that.:redface:

 

[oops!]

Re: Fuel smell

no....it is not normal for the amount of fumes you are talking......there is a leak somewhere.

it is possible you will smell fuel around the vent on hotter days as the expansion will force fumes out of the vent.......but not under the tarp

fuel systems are easy to figure out......you have a filler tube, a vent....and a feed line to the motor. one of these (or all) is bad.

you must investigate

 

[sschefer]

Re: Fuel smell

What type of tank is it. There is an acceptable level of permutation allowed on the plastic tanks and they do tend to make you think there's a problem. Your's sounds a little more serious than that. You might consider replacing the fill hose and the vent hose. They have to be red-stripe hose, not just any old thing will do.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Fuel smell

If your vent is working you will be able to smell fuel there. With cover on, does the cover come down past the vent and trap vapors in under it?

Normal.

Took the words out of my mouth. Grin

Take the cover off and run the vent fan for awhile, turn it off, then give it say 12 hrs and stick you nose at the lowest point you can get to and then ask the question again. If vent as mentioned you won't smell fumes to speak of.

Mark

 

[medicwithboat]

Re: Fuel smell

Problem solved! I replaced the fuel line from bow to stern and rebuilt the carburetor. The plastic tank is original and that will be my next (major) project.

 

[shrew]

Re: Fuel smell

What type of tank is it. There is an acceptable level of permutation allowed on the plastic tanks and they do tend to make you think there's a problem.

I think you are going for PERMEATION

Permeation: in physics and engineering, is the penetration of a permeate (such as a liquid, gas, or vapor) through a solid, and is related to a material's intrinsic permeability.

Permutation: In mathematics, the notion of permutation is used with several slightly different meanings, all related to the act of permuting (rearranging) objects or values.

Fuel tanks should be non-permeable. If you smell fuel vapor it is because of a fuel leak and you should identify it, and resolve it before you use the boat again. I hope you're not storing that in your garage.