Smelling Gas

[Luddite]

Fishing for wisdom here...My '81 is running beautifully, smooth as silk. Nice even idle on all cylinders, a dream come true.

But I've noticed a powerful smell of gasoline toward the top front of the plenum on the side closest to the engine. I can find no leaks - all hoses and fittings are dry as a bone. The smoothness of the engine makes me think it's not a gasket.

Any ideas? Or is some smell just normal?

[narfire]

Have you checked while the engine is running? I had the same thing last week,everything seemed dry but while running a very slight leak on an injector hose closest to the injector. I had replaced all the injector hoses but one clamp seemed to have "crawled" up the hose a bit and did not seal well around the barb.When the engine was not running,I never picked up on it as it must have dripped/evaporated on the warm block quickly. If you have the original hose, the slightest crack will ooze fuel while the 28-35 psi fuel is going through.
Tightened up and that smell is gone but as usuall,other issues have cropped up.
Can be a bit fiddly down there,be carefull with the hot leads on the starter and if you wear a ring... sparks can fly...don't ask how I know

[Luddite]

I did check it with the engine running. Put my face where it probably shouldn't have been...

I agree the injector hoses may be to blame, but I couldn't detect a leak down there, and the smell seemed to be coming from the plenum itself -- right near the throttle position switch. I'd hate to replace those hoses for no reason, but maybe it's time...

[majicwrench]

Powerful smell obviously = leak, keep looking. Injectors themselves can leak too.

[DUCeditor]

You'll think me crazy but here is an old motorcyclist's trick... Buy a can of jock itch spray and spray the hoses and connections in the area where the smell is strongest. The nose is sensitive and fuel evaporates quickly so sometimes a small leak can be heard to find. But soak the powder coating that spray creates and there'll be something to see.

You'll need to wash it off when you are done. Use the same precautions you would when 'steam cleaning' the motor -although this will take a lot less time and water pressure.

-don