My parking garage hates my car

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timbolia

timbolia

65Wagon
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
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Location
Culver City
Hi, This has turned into a real problem. It has been this way for the almost 2 years I have had the wagon, but the facility guy here at work came up yesterday and said that they might not let me park in the underground garage any more. And parking anywhere else here in Santa Monica is a real pain.

The Wagon smells of gas when I fill up the tank.
How do I figure out where it is coming from. I am wondering if it is the tank or the filler tube or something else.

They also said it leaked oil, which I put cardboard down this morning to prove it did not.

And they say it smokes. Which it only does when cold.

Any ideas on low budget/DIY fixes?

Personally I think the guys here with Bentleys, Astons and Porsches are just jealous.

Tim
 
timbolia said:
Hi, This has turned into a real problem. It has been this way for the almost 2 years I have had the wagon, but the facility guy here at work came up yesterday and said that they might not let me park in the underground garage any more. And parking anywhere else here in Santa Monica is a real pain.

The Wagon smells of gas when I fill up the tank.
How do I figure out where it is coming from. I am wondering if it is the tank or the filler tube or something else.

They also said it leaked oil, which I put cardboard down this morning to prove it did not.

And they say it smokes. Which it only does when cold.

Any ideas on low budget/DIY fixes?

Personally I think the guys here with Bentleys, Astons and Porsches are just jealous.

Tim
Click to expand...

Maybe the seal for the filler cap?
 
Fill the tank up then
Check/replace the seal around the sending unit.
Check/replace the fill gasket on the tank.
Check/replace the rubber seal on the cap.
basically look for clean spots on the tank.


Maybe add a spacer under the carb ?
 
trapster said:
Fill the tank up then
Check/replace the seal around the sending unit.
Check/replace the fill gasket on the tank.
Check/replace the rubber seal on the cap.
basically look for clean spots on the tank.


Maybe add a spacer under the carb ?
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan.

The one thing I am sure it is not, is the cap. I got a new one from DamnRaider here and it seals great. Before I got that though I did not realize I had lost my old cap and as I came up the 3 floors of the garage making 3 or 4 right hand U-turns I guess I splashed gas all over the garage. They did not let me park till I fixed that. But that was many months ago.

I do smell it in the car too, is that a clue to where it leaks or not?

also, what would a spacer under the carb do?

Thanks
Tim
 
I know when I replaced the filler tube seal on my Demon, it made a world of difference on the gasoline smell. Inside and out.
 
So my car has a hard hose/plastic tube under the board that covers the spare. It runs from the filler to the tank I think. It is held on by hose clamps. Is this normal? Is this the leak I am looking for?

I will try to get pics up soon

on the oil leak, I lost my original filler cap and the stant one I got at Kragen seems to let oil out to film the valve cover. Is there a recommended one that wont do that?
 
In addition to checking replacing seals at filler tube and sending unit you need to check for a plugged vent line. The line you described in the spare tire well my be your vent line, it should not be plugged and it should not be inside the car. A plugged vent will cause a gas smell because it forces the pressure and fumes out around the gas cap.
 
The spacer under the carb is for keeping your carb cooler.
When you stop your car this may keep your car from boiling the gas in the carb.
 
I feel for you. Dang busybodies with nothing better to do than mess with anyone who doesn't conform to their idea of what to drive. Probably won't be that hard to fix...maybe get it checked at a repair shop and show the invoice to the facilities guy (like a doctors note!) Try to play along with him like you understand how "important" the issue is, to defuse the situation. Be friendly and don't act like you're afraid of him. "Thanks, I appreciate it, it's all fixed now...." lol.

Oh I used TX-7 additive in my crankcase, it cut down the smoking at startup.
 
Start with the tips trapster listed for the tank leaks. On the engine smoke at start up, it's probably valve seals and/or worn valve guides. I'd start with the seals and see if the problem improves. Replacing the seals can be done without pulling the head. It's not super easy but with the right tools and know-how, it can be done in a couple of hours. You put cardboard under your slant and it doesn't leak? Yours is one of the few......
 
OK YOU have to remember...cars today HAVE sealed systems, the vented gas is pulled forward to be burned with the supply line gas, HENCE no smell...BACK in the day the tank vented to the environment, as the car or tank got hotter the gas swelled and pushed the vapors out of the vent /overflow line. THIS is perfectly NORMAL for older vehicles and NOT necessarily dangerous, unless of course someone lights a torch and places it directly next to your vent line
 
Personally, I'd start checking all the rubber lines and seals from the carb, back to where the fuel inlet enters the tank. By the time these cars are this old, time and chemicals have taken their toll on whatever rubber exists unless it's been replaced.
 
goldfish65 said:
I feel for you. Dang busybodies with nothing better to do than mess with anyone who doesn't conform to their idea of what to drive. Probably won't be that hard to fix...maybe get it checked at a repair shop and show the invoice to the facilities guy (like a doctors note!) Try to play along with him like you understand how "important" the issue is, to defuse the situation. Be friendly and don't act like you're afraid of him. "Thanks, I appreciate it, it's all fixed now...." lol.

Oh I used TX-7 additive in my crankcase, it cut down the smoking at startup.
Click to expand...


This is pretty much what I did. They are leaving me alone for now.
I think the problem was that I hade just filled the tank before I came in that morning. It does smell if I fill it more than 12 gallons.

I am going to take a look at the seals this weekend. Also I spoke too soon on the oil leak. It did leave a quarter sized stain on the cardboard. But I think that is my oil filler cap. I need one that fits tighter and does not spray a mist of oil on the covers which then adds to the smell.

Also I will try the TX-7, even though the smoke seems not to be bad right now. I also need to get in and adjust the valves, I am sure they could use it anyway.

Thanks for all of the advice.
Tim
 
For the oil breather, go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of the wrist sweat bands. Put one around the breathe as needed. That's an old racers trick from before the sealed breathers.

Bill
 
if they complain again do a top end clean with some sea-foam :p they will forget all the forementioned problems :p
 
Change the oil to full synthetic,it doesnt smoke.Used car lot and auction house trick.
 
I am going to try the wrist sweat bands and maybe the synthetic oil. Thanks for all of the tips. Just want to represent the real cars in the garage here. There is a woman here with an old Oldsmobile, 68 I think. She said she has had it for 10 years or so and they have given her some crap now and then too. But I would rather ride my bike than get a Jetta or a Corolla.
 
I would not put synthetic oil in an old engine, unless you like oil leaking out of all of your seals.
 
66cuda said:
THIS is perfectly NORMAL for older vehicles
Click to expand...
I must disagree. I never smell gas around any of my older cars, except when they had a noticeable leak, and that is parked in a home garage. A building garage is even more open, so unlikely there isn't a true leak.

I'd also first suspect the fill grommet, which cost ~$12 and takes ~2 hrs to change, if tank is almost empty and you take time to clean and paint rust. Wherever it is coming from, it should be visible.
 
BillGrissom said:
I must disagree. I never smell gas around any of my older cars, except when they had a noticeable leak, and that is parked in a home garage. A building garage is even more open, so unlikely there isn't a true leak.

I'd also first suspect the fill grommet, which cost ~$12 and takes ~2 hrs to change, if tank is almost empty and you take time to clean and paint rust. Wherever it is coming from, it should be visible.
Click to expand...


The 2 places I just found online both want about $43

Thanks
Tim
 
trapster said:
I would not put synthetic oil in an old engine, unless you like oil leaking out of all of your seals.
Click to expand...

I have 2 older vehicles,both use full synthetic,and there are no leaks. Maybe I just maintain stuff?
 
It wont leak more with synthetic oil.Will still leak if its leaking,wont smoke.
 
Try using Shell Rotella T triple protection I use it in my 65 Dart Convert and it swells the seals also it has zinc in it which helps the internals of the engine. That should help with the smoke and the leaks. ALSO all the German cars smoke on start up I work in a higher end car line bodyshop and Porsches especially give out a big puff of SMOKE!!!!
 
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