My gf's jeep (2001) is having an issue where when she turns the heater on. I do not smell gas over by the gascap, or along the fuel rail. But I do smell gas inside the engine bay (is that typical?) I checked the dip stick and its tough to tell if that smells like gas since the whole compartment does. How would I know if there is gas here?
What is next to check?

 

100 gifs to follow.

Look where the fuel line is held in place by a small clamp under the intake manifold. Engine motion puts a stress on this and it can crack (and you won't see it).

 

danger! fuel leaks can cause a fire dont drive until repaired. park outside until repaired also.

with out starting engine, prime the fuel pump by turning key to run position, but not start. pump will run several seconds then stop. turn key again to run to prime pump several times. then immediatly check for gas leak in engine bay. check injectors, hoses, regulator for signs of fresh fuel. also check the charcoal vapor can, as maybe it is flooded with gas. have fire extinguisher at ready

good luck

 

Why would you risk adding more gas to the engine compartment and then be adding power?

I would also argue that it wouldn't be a fire, it would be an explosion.

If you get a fire and the hood is closed, leave it closed.

Don't **** around till you find and fix the leak.

 

Like said, do NOT drive it until it is fixed or, yes, it could explode. Check the fuel lines, and the injectors. Leaking o-rings, dry rotted rubber in the EVAP system (hoses, rubber elbows, etc.) must be ruled out. Also, look for a big silver round cap on the fuel rail. IIRC, the XJ had it starting in 2000. Its a fuel pressure dampner. There is an o-ring under that that has been known to leak. Badly. You can use an older fuel rail without one if you want.

 

Thanks, so how do I check all this stuff without being dangerous or exploding?

 

Just to clarify, you say if the heat is off, there's no gas smell? When you turn it on, there is?

Are you sure it's gas and not coolant or exhaust?

 

Yes, only when the heater is on. I can't say for sure, but it smells like gas. Also possibly related, I am having a heater issue going on where the heater selection works intermittingly, where I will put it on 2 or 3 and it stays off, then randomly kicks on for a while, goes back off.

 

Need to determine for sure what is causing the smell. Is it gas or as Saudade mentioned, could it possibly be coolant (antifreeze)?? If you have the start of a leak in the heater core, when you use the heater it can have a slightly "sweet" smell inside of the cabin and that is the smell of coolant.

I'd get another nose or two on it or get a trusted technician at a local repair shop to look at it and smell it. Gas smells completely different than coolant. If it is coolant, you may need a new heater core.

But you dang sure need to get this resolved immediately if it truly is gas leak, and there are a number of places that could be root cause of this. Know that it only takes a single drop of gas to create a strong gas smell and yes, any gas leak, even a very small one is very dangerous and needs to immediately be fixed.

Keep us updated!

 

Well found my answer, couldnt find it in warm weather, but started it in the cold morning and found it: some little plug on the fuel injection rail. Called a fuel dampener maybe? So...can that thing be replaced or rigged out of the way? Hard to find rails taking a look online.

 

Hey Einstein... You need to be able to see the leak to fix it. Generally a leak such as this requires the fuel system to be pressurized, i.e. the fuel pump must run.

And not all gasoline leaks result in an explosion verses a fire.

As for the hood, you may well be better off fighting the fire with the hood open rather than closed.

 

Here's a better idea.

Don't give poor, dangerous advice.

#I'm_outta_here

 

Well, regardless of fighitng, can you guys help me with the OP?
Looks like I am leaking from the fuel rail (that fuel dampener). Any easy way to fix that? What is the brand I can go with thats cheap and wont break? If I am doing all this should I change my fuel injectors too? Think boshch injectors were put in, but its 5 years ago.

 

Not fighting, discussing with aplomb!

The thing Ralph calls the flame thrower?

Aren't you glad you didn't **** around?

Aftermarket fuel rail. You don't need no stinkin' dampener.

IIWM I'd just clean 'em and put in new O-rings (actually I'm cheap and would probably reuse the old O-rings).

 

I got this one for my 2000. It works.