Strong gas smell only when 4 wheeling??

[beerme1986]

So I have a 2021 badlands sasquatch 4 door 2.7. We live on the west slope of Colorado and about a 2 hour drive from Moab. So we get out a lot 4 wheeling. So every now and again I will get a strong smell of gas fumes. Talked to my ford shop years ago and nothing really happen since it does not do it all the time. So we are wheeling around Ouray this week. Yesterday it was Imogene pass and Yankee boy basin and started out with a ½ tank of gas and it was cool at elevation, mid 60s or so and overcast. No gas smell. Today, with a full tank of gas, it was engineer pass, California gulch, hurricane pass and down corkscrew. No gas smell until we reached the top of California gulch and on and off going up and down corkscrew to the hwy. Again not a warm day at elevation. I have also experienced this smell of gas in Moab, but on really warm days and wrote it off to high pressure in the tank. Most times I start the day with a full tank. Today i stopped several times and opened the door on the gas fill and there was no strong smell of gas and also lifted the hood each time with the same results. So does anybody have an idea on why this is happening?
Thanks for you insight in advance.

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[Brian_B]

In my Bronco, the off-roading gas fumes are from beef jerky and cheap beer that I have for snacks.

 

[B22-2023]

So I have a 2021 badlands sasquatch 4 door 2.7. We live on the west slope of Colorado and about a 2 hour drive from Moab. So we get out a lot 4 wheeling. So every now and again I will get a strong smell of gas fumes. Talked to my ford shop years ago and nothing really happen since it does not do it all the time. So we are wheeling around Ouray this week. Yesterday it was Imogene pass and Yankee boy basin and started out with a ½ tank of gas and it was cool at elevation, mid 60s or so and overcast. No gas smell. Today, with a full tank of gas, it was engineer pass, California gulch, hurricane pass and down corkscrew. No gas smell until we reached the top of California gulch and on and off going up and down corkscrew to the hwy. Again not a warm day at elevation. I have also experienced this smell of gas in Moab, but on really warm days and wrote it off to high pressure in the tank. Most times I start the day with a full tank. Today i stopped several times and opened the door on the gas fill and there was no strong smell of gas and also lifted the hood each time with the same results. So does anybody have an idea on why this is happening?
Thanks for you insight in advance.

Sounds like venting from high elevation/low ambient air pressure vs where you gassed up.

 

[B22-2023]

In my Bronco, the off-roading gas fumes are from beef jerky and cheap beer that I have for snacks.

Ok if we are going there, my new answer is “then take it out of 4 wheel mode”.

 

[KABQ]

I know it isn't supposed to happen, but I've had gas slosh out of the fill tube while off roading with a full tank. Not saying that's necessarily what's happening to you, just adding a data point.

 

[NC_Oak]

never experienced this, and I also almost tipped mine over on the driver side. so I didn't experience gas slosh smell. It does seem like venting tho even. curious about the 1/2 tank versus full tank. Full tank would only be more prone to sloshing into the fill tube unless there's a check closer to the tank itself. 1/2 tank presents a larger volume of gas vapor in the tank.

 

[userdude]

This happened to me one time here in Texas and I wasn't at elevation, I was just idling for a long period of time as I walked around. When I came back and got in, it was like "OMG GAS!!" in the cabin. I rolled the windows down and went to leave the park (Bridgeport), about 15m, and it was gone by the time I aired up and drove out.

I think something in the engine bay burped gas fumes and it sat in and filled the engine bay, eventually getting into the A/C intake and soaking temporarily into the cabin air filter. Then I smelled it really strong for several minutes until it dissipated. I've had exterior smells do this before. Maybe if it happens when you're driving it gets blown out before the A/C sucks it in?

 

[Burndup429]

Personal rant, I don’t understand the behavior I see at the gas station, people keep pumping the handle like they’re milking a cow after the initial shutoff. The tank is already full, you’re just filling up the filler and overflow tubes!!! Bound to go out the side in the next turn.

not saying that’s the issue here…. Just sayin.

 

[Brian_B]

So, there is a vent for the gas tank, but it's supposed to go through the Evap canister / charcoal filter.

So, if you are smelling gas fumes, but only while off roading, I would guess one of a few sources:
overfilled and/or it's from the filler neck (hole in the neck, loose clamp, etc)
hole/gouge in the gas tank someplace
gasket on the pump/level assembly isn't correct and it's sloshing out
Evap line has pulled out or something (this would probably have a CEL with it)

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Intermittent gas smell in my last (non-Bronco) vehicle ended up being a hairline crack in the tank. Have the tank and the fuel line looked at—obv could be a problem that should def be fixed. Seconding @Brian_B

 

[NC_Oak]

submerge the bronco in water up to the fill hole and look for bubbles

foolproof!!!! If you don't have enough light, use a bic lighter.

At least no one asked what your tire pressure was!

 

[userdude]

So, there is a vent for the gas tank, but it's supposed to go through the Evap canister / charcoal filter.

So, if you are smelling gas fumes, but only while off roading, I would guess one of a few sources:
overfilled and/or it's from the filler neck (hole in the neck, loose clamp, etc)
hole/gouge in the gas tank someplace
gasket on the pump/level assembly isn't correct and it's sloshing out
Evap line has pulled out or something (this would probably have a CEL with it)

Definitely if it keeps happening, it should be checked out.

For me it's only happened that one time, although it was very strong (the other guys came and smelled it). It was also towards the end of a few hours out and a 45m drive to get there, so not a full tank. Since then I've been >40deg going forwards and backwards and nearly flopped on the driver side, no problem. So yeah, don't know.

 

[climb2descend]

Last off-road trip this happened to me, I filled up gas at 4k feet and 90+ deg and then immediately proceeded to go up to 11k feet and like 80 degrees and it happened. After I burned up more gas it was fine. It has to be due to the pressure difference and venting and going into the charcoal canister. Probably just need to not fill 100% if gonna go up to high elevation right away after filling.

 

[dcaero]

Same has happened a few times to me. Always at high elevations in CO, but it's only ever been while I'm towing and climbing. I have nothing to add solution wise...

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