Gas smell after driving. No error codes. No visible leaks.

Brand new to the site. Got here by searching fuel smell in Range Rover Sport. Great detail in this thread. Just wondering if this could also be a problem with a RRS? The wife's is having the same issue. I'm a DIY type of guy and was thinking about doing this myself! Just replaced the control arms... piece-o-cake! Well, not reallly.

WinterRRS said:

Brand new to the site. Got here by searching fuel smell in Range Rover Sport. Great detail in this thread. Just wondering if this could also be a problem with a RRS? The wife's is having the same issue. I'm a DIY type of guy and was thinking about doing this myself! Just replaced the control arms... piece-o-cake! Well, not reallly.

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If you read through the thread, you'll see that in addition to my issue, a few other people responded with gas coming from different places. However, I think in every case it was very evident once the tank was dropped.

I suspect the RRS undercarriage is exactly the same, no reason to change it.

I don't know your level of expertise, but based on the reluctance I found for even qualified mechanics to want to drop the tank unless absolutely necessary, I suspect it's a chore. However, if you do a thorough inspection for any faint drip lines or stronger smells, you could speed up the process or find something easy to address on your own. Also, as noted above, where it could very well be a hardware failure (gasket, tubes, etc.) there is also a pretty complex venting system that can only be debugged for errors by the computer running a self test. It could be a clogged or frozen valve or pump as well.

Good luck! Let us know what you find out.

I took mine to Land Rover here in Scottsdale - they repaired for around $400-500 - right near the top flange. I didn't want to go boom while driving. Exhaust heat and gas leak not a good combination.

Hello everyone, I own a 2011 Range Rover HSE Luxury Edition and encountered the same gas smell about 4 days ago. I noticed it because the smell began to permeate into the house from the garage. I initially thought the obvious: a loose fuel cap since the smell seemed to originate from the right, rear part of the vehicle. After closer inspection and a few days later, the smell worsened and was noticeable even when the vehicle was parked outdoors and finally, when it was being driven. I was never able to see gas leakage on or near the vehicle throughout this process and engine warning lights never came on. Also, fuel consumption remained the same and I decided to take it back to my local mechanic. He replaced the vehicle's rear brakes earlier in the year for a fraction of the cost that the local Land Rover dealership wanted to charge. The same day I took the vehicle in, he informed me that he was not able to visually locate any gas leaks and proceeded to test for hydrocarbons. The test resulted in hydrocarbon emissions in the 2000 PPM range. He recommended that the tank be dropped to pinpoint where the leak was originating from. I will update this forum when I receive the final diagnostic and resolution.

Hello, first post here. My name is Alberto and I own a 2011 RRS SC.

Same issue as described, fuel smell after getting out of the vehicle. I did notice the skid plate covering the tank with a small spot where the dust was apparently soaked. I wiped with a rag and smell the gasoline on it.
Also noticed that the leak was coming from the driver side of the tank where the heat shield connects with the skid plate.

Decided to drop the tank to inspect fuel lines coming on top. With the tank dropped I decided to start the engine (with all lines connected) to check where the fuel was coming out. Did not see any stream or big leak but the white plastic cover has slowly getting covered with fuel and then starting to run to the driver side of the tank.

After some reading here in this thread I decided to order the replacement (tank dust cover + o-ring) part as well as a tool for removing the ring that holds it.

Will post some more pictures of the process of replacing the part once I receive it.

Regards,


Alberto H.

If doing this yourself exercise caution with the bolts holding on the strap for the tank; they may be corroded. it took a day of penetrating oil on mine before they would loosen and this work was done by an independent shop.

toddjb122 said:

Smoke test pointed to the DMTL Pump. I'm told part of that assembly is supposed to vent pressure differences between the tank and the outside, and perhaps the solenoid controlled plunger on mine is stuck full open.

Awaiting warranty approval, part, install and then follow-up testing to confirm the rest of the system is tight.

Good thing (for you) is that this very busy shop said they never see LR4s coming in with fuel smells. So it's a rare issue.

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well I guess one the chosen one because my 2010 LR4 probably has the same issue. It smells at the right rear passenger wheel after the car has been running for a bit and there is no liquids or anything dripping. How expensive was this fix and how much is labor or how hard is the part to get to if you know. Really hoping they don’t have to drop the tank because I’d rather not spend that sort of money right now.

Jimmy Brooks said:

well I guess one the chosen one because my 2010 LR4 probably has the same issue. It smells at the right rear passenger wheel after the car has been running for a bit and there is no liquids or anything dripping. How expensive was this fix and how much is labor or how hard is the part to get to if you know. Really hoping they don’t have to drop the tank because I’d rather not spend that sort of money right now.

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Jimmy, if you read through this entire thread you already know that my issue was a "cracked apart fuel tank flange gasket" which could only be identified by dropping the tank.

It does seem that there are several other things which could also cause this smell, so a shop will probably do another test first to see if there is a fix that does not require dropping the tank. It seems that they are reticent to drop the tank, just to identify the problem, because that is a time consuming job if it wasn't required.

Don't know what to tell you on parts and cost. Mine was luckily covered by an after market warranty. Find a good LR mechanic to take the initial look, if you can't see anything obvious when you stick your head under the vehicle. Good luck! It's an annoying issue for certain. I'm suspicious that this is why the original owner sold my vehicle... he got sick of the fuel smell and couldn't get anyone to take a look at it.

I have a good LR mechanic and I have read through the forum a bit and I believe mine is a crack in the flange or the gasket. Anyone know home much labor is to drop the tank.

Jimmy Brooks said:

I have a good LR mechanic and I have read through the forum a bit and I believe mine is a crack in the flange or the gasket. Anyone know home much labor is to drop the tank.

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My Indy LR only tech charged me somewhere around 100-125 to change my flange and gasket.

I ran to the dealer and got the parts for 60ish and then he did it while I waited and watched.

If you have a lift and a trans jack it is not a hard job. An hour or so maybe.