Why Does the Car Emit a Strong Gasoline Smell When Starting?

[TimothyFitz]

Reasons for a strong gasoline smell when starting the car: 1. Insufficient air intake in the throttle body; 2. Problems with the carbon canister or carbon canister solenoid valve, causing an overly rich air-fuel mixture; 3. Excessive carbon buildup inside the engine, leading to poor atomization of the air-fuel mixture; 4. Leakage in the fuel injectors. During winter, when the external temperature is very low, the car cannot reach the normal operating temperature immediately after starting. At this time, the car's computer will appropriately increase the fuel injection amount based on the intake air temperature and coolant temperature signals. The increased fuel injection, along with a minimal amount of fuel vapor being expelled, results in a noticeable gasoline smell. Once the car reaches the normal operating temperature, the fuel vapor in the cylinders can fully combust, and the gasoline smell naturally disappears.