What Causes the Smell of Gasoline When Turning on the Heater?
2 Answers
Opening the heater and smelling gasoline could be due to the following reasons: 1. The carbon particles in the charcoal canister are saturated or failed, causing fuel vapors from the fuel tank to escape into the atmosphere, which are then drawn into the cabin by the blower. 2. There is an exhaust gas leak from the external engine, or foreign objects at the air intake causing unpleasant odors to enter through the air conditioning intake. It is recommended to use the external circulation mode when turning on the heater. 3. The cabin air filter is too dirty. The car's cabin air filter should be cleaned regularly to filter out harmful gases. 4. Mold in the air conditioning ducts and evaporator, which is relatively troublesome and costly to repair.
Last week I also encountered the issue of gasoline smell from the heater. Right after starting the car, I noticed a pungent odor. My mechanic friend explained that this usually happens when there's a slight leak in the fuel lines in the engine compartment, allowing gasoline vapors to enter through the air conditioning intake. This is especially common during cold starts in winter when fuel combustion is incomplete. I recommend first opening the hood to check for oil stains around the fuel line connections, then inspecting if the charcoal canister is clogged. If you notice this smell accompanied by a loss of power, it's likely due to aging injector seals leaking fuel. This needs immediate attention since gasoline leaks are serious - any spark could be extremely dangerous. It's best to have a professional shop diagnose it promptly.
