[Guest]

It's been a while since I&

It's been a while since I've driven a carb's car so I forget some things.

But, whenever I park it in the garage, I can smell the exhaust is very strong. I think the car is running a little rich which would contribute to this. I can also smell some gas odor. It's not strong, but it's there. If I come back a 30-40 minutes later, the smell is still there if the garage doors are closed. If I open the door, it goes away pretty quick. Also, I can't hardly notice anything if it's parked outside unless I lean over the engine cover and smell for it.

Is it just the smell of fuel in the carburetor float bowls? The owners manual does say to turn the key, wait 20-seconds for the bowls to fill, then start the car. I thought maybe the smell was the left over gas after running that was evaporating.

I've looked and don't see any fuel leaks, and like I mentioned, if I open the garage door, the smell quickly dissipates and it does not come back.

 

[Guest]

It could be a fuel hose leak i

It could be a fuel hose leak if they've never been replaced. Might not be a bad idea to pull the air cleaner and look around to make sure. And if the fuel hoses are original I'd replace them all.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

New fuel hoses in 1994, 3000-m

New fuel hoses in 1994, 3000-miles ago.

I'll pull the air cleaner tonight and see what I can find.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Stick your nose down by the pa

Stick your nose down by the passenger side air intake. This may help you isolate the source before removing the aircleaner top.

My '78 no longer has the raw fume recovery system (charcol cannister etc..) and the raw tank fumes are plumbed to the bottom of the aircleaner base hence the fumes from the air intake. I must say though that yours sounds like it is more pronounced than mine. Check for cracked vent hoses above the right rear tire where the fuel liquid/fume separator is located (you may have to remove the inner fender to get a good look). Those were the ONLY ones not changed when they did my car.

HTH
DJ

 

[Guest]

Sean,
Another possibility is

Sean,
Another possibility is the fuel filler hose between the filler neck and the left hand tank. Mine looked good until I gave it a twist and it cracked. I guess that was the 'other' hose they didn't change!

I replaced mine with one from NAPA #1055. The hose is fuel grade and made by Goodyear. Cut to length. Cost about 8.00.

NAPA has some nice high end band clamps that incorporate a bolt and nut assembly in lieu of the worm screw type commonly used on radiators.

 

[Guest]

Sean,

Fuel smells & lea

Sean,

Fuel smells & leaks are not to be taken lightly imo. Yes it's work and effort to take things apart and insure beyond a doubt they are ok. That's the price of responsibility. The flip side of the coin is a potential fuel fire.

There are only two choices in situations like this imo:

1- take things apart and inspect for definative answers.

2-cross fingers and hope you get lucky that nothing is wrong.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

If you want to see what a burn

If you want to see what a burned 308 looks like go to www.wreckedexotics.com.

So sad to see beautiful cars ruined by one bad leak.
DJ

 

[Guest]

Well I'm not taking it lig

Well I'm not taking it lightly that's why I asked the question.

I'll dive into it tonight, starting with your first suggestion JRV. Then, onto checking fuel lines, the fume recovery system, and filler neck hoses, etc. until I discover what is causing the smell.

When I find the answer I'll post it here.

Spasso, the first thing we bought before we drove home was a fire extinguisher!

Thanks guys.

 

[Guest]

I noticed that Sean. You menti

I noticed that Sean. You mentioned that 'Murphy' law too. "You'll need it when you don't have it".

Good luck on your search

 

[Guest]

Sean,
I had a 78 308 GTS and

Sean,
I had a 78 308 GTS and the vapor recovery system had been removed. I too noticed a bit of gas smell from the air intake on the passenger side. Noticeable in my garage as well. All fuel hoses were new, including the fuel filler neck hose.

 

[Guest]

I, too, have a gas smell from

I, too, have a gas smell from the right (passenger) intake (leads to the carbs).

Now, I thought (from reading the manual, mind you!) that these cars had an electrically activated "barrier" inside the intake "box" leading to the air box that, when the car was turned off, would close, preventing fumes from escaping...

I'm pretty sure this thing exists in the manual. I've never seen it and never heard it activate, and also have no idea how truly "effective" it is at what it's supposed to do...

 

[Guest]

Well that was easy to solve.

Well that was easy to solve.

No Carbon trap, no thre-way control valve, no liquid vapor separator....basically no Evaporative emissions control system.

Now the next question is, should I restore the system this winter when I do the belts and carburators? The gas smell is not strong, but I can notice it. I leave the garage door open for 30-45 minutes after I drive so dissapate the vapors, but it still stinks some the next morning.

I'm thinking I should restore it. My kids are in and out of the garage all the time, especially in the summer time. Not to mention the odor bothers me.

Thanks guys

 

[Guest]

Sean,
With kids around resto

Sean,
With kids around restoration of the system may be a good idea.

Fortunately mine has the liquid vapor separator with one exit hose that normally would have been hooked to the charcol cannister. I instead hooked it to a tube attached to the underside of the aircleaner. The port is centered between the four carbs and the end of the tube points to the passenger side of the car just beneath the inlet section of the aircleaner. With this set up the fuel smell seems to be minimized. I also let the car sit outside for 15 or 20 minutes after a hot run before putting in the shop.

I found the barrier that Mike is talking about inside the inlet. On mine it appears to be a vacuum operated flap. Non functional on mine. Stays open all of the time.

Hope this helps.
DJ

 

[Guest]

I know which flap you're t

I know which flap you're talking about but I don't believe mine has one.

I'm going to look into this a little further this weekend. There were several hoses around the carbs. that were blanked off. I'm pretty sure they were part of this fume recover system, but not 100%.

I looked up the parts at Ferrari UK. Total came to, sit down, $284 !!! The worst was some dearator (the manual says liquid/vapor separator) that was L98 or $156 US. Yikes. I may have to come up with a different system so it doesn't cost me so damn much money. I'm sure I can find an American version of the separator can charcoal canister that will do the same thing for about 1/10th the cost.

 

[Guest]

Got to do the same replacement

Got to do the same replacement, so keep us posted...

 

[Guest]

Arnaud,

I will be this wint

Arnaud,

I will be this winter. Probably in January/February when I do the timing belts.

I'll be sure and write something up and post it in the technical articles section of this board for all to see. Sounds like this is a common problem. I really don't see the point in disconnecting the system (JRV ??). It's not like is got a belt on it that robs HP from the car.

 

[Guest]

Hi Sean,

to answer your que

Hi Sean,

to answer your question, if the system isn't fully intact and functional it causes intake air leaks. That is why you will find the hoses to the intake manifolds plugged off.

Each old piece being reused will need to be checked to insure it's working properly and not leaking, to insure against intake leaks.

Regards, JRV