Serious gas smell

Hey guys, long time lurker. Great information on this forum. I usually don't have to ask any questions at all. I did a search about this problem, and found a few options. I thought I would lay out the problem and see what everyone thinks.

I just bought a second CRX. Exterior is in crappy shape since it came from the rust belt. The interior is in great shape. The engine was replaced 60k miles ago, and seems to be in good shape. Engine is a D15B1 or something similar.

We got it home and put it in the garage, now there's a serious gas smell coming from the car. On another related thread, the poster took it to a mechanic and they said an o-ring on top of the gas tank was installed wrong. Are there any other options? Bad fuel filter? Bad gas cap?

Thanks for any help,
Thrill

Hey guys, long time lurker. Great information on this forum. I usually don't have to ask any questions at all. I did a search about this problem, and found a few options. I thought I would lay out the problem and see what everyone thinks.

I just bought a second CRX. Exterior is in crappy shape since it came from the rust belt. The interior is in great shape. The engine was replaced 60k miles ago, and seems to be in good shape. Engine is a D15B1 or something similar.

We got it home and put it in the garage, now there's a serious gas smell coming from the car. On another related thread, the poster took it to a mechanic and they said an o-ring on top of the gas tank was installed wrong. Are there any other options? Bad fuel filter? Bad gas cap?

Thanks for any help,
Thrill

Could be a bad gas cap. But I don't think that would cause the bad gas smell. I would check around the gas tank, and with the O-Ring there is and Isn't a wrong way to install it. On my gas tank the O-Ring sits in a little lip on the cover of my Gas tank. So theres no way I can install the O-Ring wrong.

I can't remember how the CRXs O-Rings are.

You should try to trace where the gas smell is coming from... this might make you sick, but it will tell you almost immediately what is in disrepair.

Thanks guys. I'll check the gas cap and fuel lines when I get home.

The previous owners mentioned the smell, but said it only happened when the tank was over 3/4ths full. I'm guessing it's from the tube from the gas cap to the tank, but it could easily be a rust hole in the top of the tank.

I saw a thread in another forum where a guy replaced his gas tank to get rid of the smell. Apparently a previous owner had screwed into the gas tank to mount an amp. Good times.

The previous owners of my car weren't the type to have an amp, so I don't think that's the case. I'll check what I can before dropping the tank.

Thanks again.
Thrill

either a hole in your gas tank or very well possible the ring. you shouldn't smell gas inside the car....PERIOD.

pull the rear interior out and you should find the problem one way or another.

Thanks Lady, I'll do just that.

Had to fix the wife's motorcycle this morning. Now I'm hoping to get a bicycle ride in before tackling this gas issue. It's not an immediate issue since we have five vehicles, but I wanted to get it taken care of this weekend.

I'll post what the issue was once I figure it out. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much to fix.

Thrill

I pulled out most of the interior in the back. Thankfully, it appears everything is in good shape inside the car.

So, the problem is either in the lines before they reach the tank, or the tank itself. From what I could see through the interior seal, the lines are pretty rusted once they leave the passenger compartment. It looks like I'm going to have to drop the tank, which I would prefer to do with less than 3/4s of a tank. I'm going to drive it next week to run the gas out.

I'd post pics of the new CRX but the amount of rust is embarassing. We're visiting a junkyard on Friday to look for a hood and driver side fender. Hopefully we'll get lucky.

Thanks again for the help,
Thrill