Thread: Gasoline odor

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Since I don't have a billet cap, I can't blame that Tanks was temporarily out of production of that filler when I bought my tank. And like Jack said, they have been a problem for a friend and his '32. Gas odor - mine is like Chanel #5 perfume compared to his!!!

Since I'm doing a bunch of other punch list items on my car, I'm rerouting my vent line - again, this time in a more permanent fashion, but since there was no gas odor today...............damn

Originally Posted by rspears

I just talked to Lee at Tanks, Inc and learned a few things. First, my billet cap did not have the thick o-ring gasket, so my odor in the trunk is most likely due to my cap not being sealed. Tanks is sending me an O-ring which they say is very thick and heavy, rated for fuel service.

Second, their brass anti-rollover valve actually is designed to fit down into the tank as it has two check balls - one is phenolic and floats up to seal the vent with slosh with a full tank (not supposed to be topped off, but if it is...), and the second is stainless to drop down if the tank/valve becomes inverted. Mounting it extended above the tank is fine, but Tanks does not consider that to be necessary with their dual check ball design.

Hopefully the O-ring gets rid of a lot of my gas aroma, and I am still going to get a longer hose for a up & down loop seal.

I used this same valve and have it mounted externally on a short section of hose. No loops in the line and no odors found. I also have the aluminum cap with the heavy o-ring on a steel neck and haven't had any problems. I also apply never-sieze out of habit!

IC2 -
I have a below the bed tank on my 48 truck. My vent line only raises maybe two inches. I've had gas in the tank for a year now, with no fume problems, except in the beginning, when I installed the fuel line. Turned out the fitting into my tank(on the bottom) had a small leak where it dripped very slowly, so it was hard to tell, but boy what a stink. I'm posting here mostly to get updates so I can follow this thread. Problems like these drive people nuts. It's always good to see them fixed! Hope all your efforts pay off. It may also not reoccur until next time it heats up enough for the tank to expand, now that we are headed into cooler weather. Hang in there.

I read this thread six months ago and installed a length of fuel line along the inside of the right rear quarter panel up over the highest 1" square tubing bar in my Bebops roadster. I still have a garage gasoline odor and I am going to check my installation against every aspect mentioned here.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

If its an odor in the garage don't overlook lawn mowers, snow blowers, rotor tillers,leaf blowers or possibly some gas can-----------

Also don't forget the spouse after burrito night!

Originally Posted by Don Shillady

I read this thread six months ago and installed a length of fuel line along the inside of the right rear quarter panel up over the highest 1" square tubing bar in my Bebops roadster. I still have a garage gasoline odor and I am going to check my installation against every aspect mentioned here.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Something that gets overlooked quite a bit is two fold, the first being a fuel line not compatible with modern day fuels. The second is a gas cap that no longer stays seated and sealed.


Bill S.

I waited until the temp went up this afternoon and found two items. First, I checked with Rock Valley Antique Auto who made my tank out of 14 gauge stainless and found I did not have any rubber O-ring in the screw-on cap. "Chris" of Rock Valley said "without doubt" there will be a gas smell without that gasket/sealer so I ordered the recommended O-ring. Second, I checked the end of the vent hose and found it slightly moist with gas. Note that I had topped off the tank three times two weeks ago during mileage tests so with the level of gas slightly up in the neck of the fill pipe vibration could have sent liquid up the vent hose. My vent hose goes steadily upward from the front corner of the tank over the 1" square tubing under the rear deck about 12-14" above the tank and then down to a hole in the floor under the right rear fender about at the front edge of the right rear tire. This looks a lot like a siphon until there is a vapor gap at the tank level so I probably did lose some gas through that tube. When I came into the garage this morning the gas odor was very slight and much less than when I was doing the fill-ups for the mileage tests. I also got the hint to put some anti-seize grease on the threads of the cap, thanks for that suggestion. I think the recent smell was due to the topping off of the tank right into the neck during my mileage tests so let me see if the O-ring and less-than-totally full levels reduce any smell. Jerry's comment is accurate since I have a wooden floor in my garage and there have been many spills of rear gear oil, a LOT of spilled prestone and some motor oil spills that have soaked into the wood! Thanks for a lot of helpful comments on this thread.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder