Strong petrol smell

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bazessex
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My Cars: Citroen BX 1.6 TGS Meteor. H reg.
Citroen Traction Avant 11B 1952 LHD.

Strong petrol smell

Post by bazessex »

Hi,

I am new on here and this is my first petrol BX here in the UK. Had a diesel one in France many years ago.
My problem is the car stinks of petrol when near it or sitting in it. Checked all pipes and cannot see a leak. Carb seems to be ok.
Any ideas please?
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xjs36uk
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by xjs36uk »

Start by checking the pipes around the vapour canister, which is inside the car above the filler neck above the rear right wheel arch. Remove the right hand plastic boot panel and you'll see the canister (black plastic box) with 3 pipes coming out of it, two go to the filler neck and one goes forward inside the car. (also check the filler neck jubilee clips if you can get to them (from under the wheel arch). I've just stripped mine out to weld up the wheel arch.
Check also the tank and any pipes connectors the go into it or from it. I presume you've already done this part. It's a start and hopefully you'll find something simple to repair.
87 Capri 3.0S
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91 W124 250D Kombi
93 Xantia Phase 1 1.9TD SX
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99 P38 2.5DSE
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by rutter123 »

Also check your rubber fuel lines at the front end as these do perish after 25 odd years, metal lines that run from front to rear on the underside along the inside of the sill also corrode there are 2 of these a supply and a return, and as above says filler neck etc...should be fairly obvious if you have sprung a leak somewhere.
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bazessex
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My Cars: Citroen BX 1.6 TGS Meteor. H reg.
Citroen Traction Avant 11B 1952 LHD.

Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by bazessex »

Thanks for the advice. I am now totally confused as the smell has stopped on it's own.
Kaapelimies
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by Kaapelimies »

xjs36uk wrote:Start by checking the pipes around the vapour canister, which is inside the car above the filler neck above the rear right wheel arch
There is no such in a BX with carburettor as there is no catalyzer nor lambda. At least not in those models we have in the nordics.
BX 4x4 estate, several BX Van's and some more normal estates in Finland.
bazessex
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Citroen Traction Avant 11B 1952 LHD.

Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by bazessex »

I have checked just about everywhere and no sign of a leak but the smell comes and goes. Strangely if I use the car a fair bit the smell goes only to return when left sitting.
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Jaba
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by Jaba »

My GTi used to do this until I discovered that the metal petrol filler pipe was rusting through where it sat against the inside of rear wing.
Its usually covered in mud there so not easy to see.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by rutter123 »

I had the metal filler neck rot out on my old tgd im sure the replacement came in plastic? Are hatch/estate filler necks the same as i have a spare plastic one here tho it's poss it could be for a Xantia.
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Jaba
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by Jaba »

They differ depending on the size of the tank 50L or 66L with the expansion tank in the rear wing. Never seen a plastic one, so that will be a first if it is.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
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Mark.T
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Re: Strong petrol smell

Post by Mark.T »

You might want to check out the seal on the fuel level sender unit. This is accessible under the rear seat. I've had problems with my series 2 giving strong fuel smells in the cabin when the tank is close to full. I found fuel leaking under the seat. If I don't fill it right up it is OK. I have a feeling the seal perished after I used fuel with 10% ethanol for a year or two here in Australia. On that note, does anyone know if fuel with ethanol mixed should be avoided with a BX? I've never used it in my series 1 and have had no fuel leak problems.

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