97 cont smelling gas

hello all , i am a new member but have been reading for a long time. i own a 97 cont bought it new it has 60k miles on it i traded a 94 mark lsc in on it . my problem is that for some time now i have had (not all the time) sometimes smell gas strong only when driving & not when parked in the garage. the problem doesnt have a pattern like after a fill up or half a tank or anything to give me a clue. anybody got any ideas or suggestions i would greatly appreciate your input thank you .

Welcome here pdp0069 !!

You know this can be a potentially dangerous problem, right :nono:

I suppose it's prudent to ask; how well do you maintain your vehicle?

I simple thing like 60k miles on an Air Filter :rofl: can cause fuel smells. A more likely suspect would be leaking fuel in the engine compartment somewhere.

Fuel is pumped from the tank at roughly 40psi, past the fuel filter, up the length of the vehicle, into the engine compartment, pressurizing the Fuel Rails (injector supply assembly), into the Injectors (past an O ring), then any unused fuel is returned to the tank through another line.

A leak can occur anywhere in the path. An Injector O-Ring can leak fuel onto the engine. Salted roads can eat away at the steel fuel lines that run the length of the vehicle.

Minimal rubber hose is used in the path but, where it is used we have potential for rubber deterioration and leakage.

Sometimes slightly bending / twisting / prodding a pressurized hose will cause it to show its flaws, and maybe even squirt fuel in your eye.