Why is there a gasoline smell when the car is just started?
2 Answers
The reasons for the gasoline smell when the car is just started: 1. Insufficient intake of the throttle valve; 2. Problems with the carbon canister or carbon canister solenoid valve, causing the mixture to be too rich; 3. Excessive carbon deposits inside the engine, resulting in poor mixture atomization; 4. Leakage from the fuel injector. The specific cause needs to be checked at a 4S shop or a professional auto repair shop. A strong gasoline smell when starting the car is usually normal if it disappears after the engine warms up, because the combustion effect is poor when the car is just started. During a cold start, the water temperature and the temperature of the exhaust pipe are low, and the mixture is relatively rich at this time, so some of the mixture cannot be fully burned and is discharged through the exhaust pipe, which causes the noticeable gasoline smell. This is a normal phenomenon.
I drive on highways all year round, and it's quite common to smell gasoline when starting the car. It's mostly because the engine has just started from a cold state, and the gasoline hasn't burned completely before moving, especially in cold weather or with older cars. Low engine temperature leads to poor combustion efficiency, making it easier for the gasoline smell to escape. Last winter, when I drove that old car, I smelled a strong odor every time I started it, but it dissipated after driving for a while. As long as it doesn't persist or become so pungent that it causes dizziness, it's generally fine. I recommend regularly checking if the spark plugs are worn out or if the air filter is clogged, as these can exacerbate the problem. Minor maintenance can prevent major issues.
