Fuel odor in cockpit!

M

mcolp

New member
Hello All,

I have a Safety Issue with fuel odor in the cockpit. When I unsnap the cockpit cover after setting all night or anytime after I first remove the cockpit cover I can detect a strong odor of what seems to be stale gasoline. The reason I say stale gasoline is because when I unscrew the gas cap and take a whiff the gas in the tanks it smells slightly different. I’ve inspected all of the fuel hose connections, fuel vent hose connections, fuel tank selector connections and fuel fill hose connections for loose clamps or evidence of staining and I couldn’t find anything. None of the hoses were brittle and I couldn’t see any cracks. (Date of Mfr. 2006) I’m assuming that if one of the fuel tanks was leaking that stains would be visible around the bottom. Also, the fuel vents are not covered by the cover and the fuel odor is also present when the camper top is buttoned up over night.

I am at my wits end on this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
 
Virtually all plastic gas tanks allow gas odors to permeate through the plastic. They are especially noticeable when in a closed in space. An odor isn't an indication of fumes being at a volatile level to cause ignition via a spark. It basically is just a nuisance odor. It is always a good idea to check for leaks on occasion.
 
We have the same model and year cruiser as do you. We do not notice any fuel odors. The only time I have ever noticed anything was a couple of days ago when I was laying down between the tanks running some new wiring. It was hot and I just got a very faint gas odor. Not being facetious but you may have a sensitive sense of smell. You might see if someone else, not pre-conditioned to smell it notices the odor.
 
My 2005 Jenny B had that problem. It was a defect in the tank. I used to have closeup pictures but they (C-Dory) did have a problem where the bronze hose connection screwed into the tank. Some neanderthal screwed mine in and there was a crack in the fitting itself causing a small stain on the top of the tank at the fitting.

C-Dory replaced the tanks under warranty. You won't be so lucky I'm afraid.

I'll see if I can scare up the photos again

Don
 
You mentioned unsnapping the cockpit cover. Where are your tank vents? Are they by chance in a position where they could vent UNDER or near the cover when the cover is installed?

If so, since the gas "fumes" are heavier than air, they would collect in the cockpit under the cover.

JASITD

Charlie
 
Hi,
You might consider pulling the fuel hose off the fuel filter that runs from your fuel selector valve to your fuel filter. Blowing in from the end you removed from the fuel filter and switching the fuel selector valve you can see if you have any issues with your fuel vents by switching the valve top each tank. Doing so you could use a mimimal amount of soapy water to check for leaks on top of your tanks by taping your fuel vents closed only for a temporiary basis so you can see what is going on looking for leaks on top of your tanks. Don't leave the vents taped up for too long. Don't smoke!
D.D.
 
If you dont have the subfloor in your boat, you could also crank up the trailer jack, discombobulate the bilge pump [unhook the battery cables], and put the plug in and run the hose into the cockpit and see if you have any rainbow sheen on top of the water when an inch or two collects . If so you have a leak and more than just fumes .
Marc
 
mcolp":3v91cleu said:
Hello All,

I have a Safety Issue with fuel odor in the cockpit. When I unsnap the cockpit cover after setting all night or anytime after I first remove the cockpit cover I can detect a strong odor of what seems to be stale gasoline. The reason I say stale gasoline is because when I unscrew the gas cap and take a whiff the gas in the tanks it smells slightly different. I’ve inspected all of the fuel hose connections, fuel vent hose connections, fuel tank selector connections and fuel fill hose connections for loose clamps or evidence of staining and I couldn’t find anything. None of the hoses were brittle and I couldn’t see any cracks. (Date of Mfr. 2006) I’m assuming that if one of the fuel tanks was leaking that stains would be visible around the bottom. Also, the fuel vents are not covered by the cover and the fuel odor is also present when the camper top is buttoned up over night.

I am at my wits end on this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

We Had the same problem a number of years ago. We could smell gas but we couldn't find a leak. When we filled the tank's full we found that the fuel fill hose had came unlaminated. The hoses looked like new but when we fill the tanks up and after we let it set for 30 Minutes or os we could see the gas seeping out of the Starboard fill hose.
 
Fuel hose has multiple layers and it can decompose from the inside yet the outside is fine. An earlier posting on substandard hose made outside of US is worth reading
 
B²":1yp4mxug said:
Fuel hose has multiple layers and it can decompose from the inside yet the outside is fine. An earlier posting on substandard hose made outside of US is worth reading
Click to expand...

I remember the hose that we used was made in the U.S. and was coast Guard approved. It wasn't sub standard hose. Still After being used for just 3 years the hose started coming apart from the inside out.
 
thanks
A fuel tank usually 3 connections: one for fuel filling, 2nd for a vent line and the third for fuel going to the motor. A leak can occur at any of these connections or a faulty tank. Is the tank a blown injection single piece or 2 piece heat welded unit? The bad gas smell has me puzzled and thought the primer pump holds gas and might be the issue.
 
Hello All, Again,

I'd like to thank all of you that posted replies and recommendations regarding my fuel odor issues. I have some interesting findings that you may be interested in.
As it turns out, Moeller, who is the manufacturer of my tanks state very clearly on their website:

The question that has been raised by many of our customers is; what is fuel permeation? Permeation is the process by which smaller hydro
carbon molecules pass through the chemical chain of the cross-linked polyethylene. That permeation can be described as a “wicking effect”. Fuel
odor is the end result of this process; note this is a normal occurrence in plastic fuel tanks and should not be confused with fuel vapor.
Permeation Key Drivers:
1. Storage temperatures increase the permeation rate: for every 50 F / 10 C (degree(s)), the rate doubles.
2. Pressurized fuel tanks will increase the permeation rate.
3. Ethanol Blends will increase permeation rates.

In other words, some of the gasoline fumes that I'm smelling could very well be from the Moeller Cross-linked Polyethylene tanks that I have.

Hoses:
In addition, the fuel vent hoses on the Port side have no markings at all and appear to be soft and are easily movable even with the hose clamps as snug as I can get them.
The fuel vent hoses on the Starboard side are appropiately marked (A1 with the 2006 manufacturing date)
I am going to replace all of the fuel vent AND fuel supply hoses AND clamps.

Clamps: All of the clamps (Except for the large fuel fill hose clamps) appear to be
el cheapo types that are too large for the smaller hoses. The smaller hose clamps appear to be in a "D" shape instead of circular when they are tightened.
Consistant circular clamping forces appear to be nonexistent therefore I am replacing all of the clamps with the proper type and size of clamps.

In addition, I checked all of the hose connections on both tanks, vents and fuel tank selector valve for combustible (hydrocarbons) gases with a combustible gas detector reading in ppm and obtained readings from approx. 20-200 ppm of gasoline fumes. The LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) for gasoline is approx. 2100 ppm so it appears that the level of gas fumes that I smell are well below the threshold of LEL for gasoline.
I'll let you know how successful I am in eliminating or at least reducing the fumes that I'm smelling.

By the way, the fuel tank vents are OUTSIDE of the cockpit cover.

Once again, thanks for all of your comments and suggestions.

Mike


[/b]
 
That is what I was saying in my first post concerning permeating odors. Recently I have been researching the benefit of installing permanent twin fixed tanks verses the two portable Moellers I have now. My original thoughts were from the perspective of odor control when the full camper back is set up.

Once I read the same information on the Moeller web page, I realized if I close the vents while "sleeping" on Sweet Pea I can minimize the odors down to the same level as permanent tanks. I still plan on the permanent tanks, I just think there are more valuable resources to purchase first. (Radar :smilep ) :lol:
 
We have a 16 with the Moeller 6 & 3 gal tanks. While on the water or in the marina with the camperback up we don't have too much of a gas odor issue as long as the vents are closed. I had a 12 gal Moeller tank and had a lot of odor issues with that tank, the smaller tanks are easier to handle and seem NOT to have the off gassing issue as bad. I store my tanks outside in a covered area while the boat is in the garage, if I leave the tanks in the boat while in the garage, it really smells. Before an overnighter I spray a few shots of Febreze in the boat to kill the odor.

Kev
 
Febreeze is a wonderful things! I actuall have 4 tanks that came with Sweet Pea (two 6 gallon and two 12 gallon) currently I pick and choose depending on the weekends plans. I do think that the 6 gallon tanks have thicker walls. But the 6 gallon tanks have about half the surface area as the 12 gallon tanks, therefore less odor can pass through those tanks over the same amount of time.

It really isn't very noticiable while you are on board for any given time. It is just when you step on board after being off for a period of time (especially in these "dog Days of Summer"). My 22' center console had the same issue with below beck tanks. Gas odor in the console and hatches that communicated with each other via cable passages. Pressure test on that 55 gallon tank showed no leaks. Just nuisence odors in the low parts per million range.
 
Hi Folks,

I have had this problem of gas odor since I rebuilt the stern and added two 18 gallon tanks. I have gone over it and had a professional check it out. No problem. It is very strong when the cockpit cover is enclosed when I first undo the cover. I think the comment about the reaction with the gas tank and gas with the odor seeping through the tank walls seems to be the best answer. I don't think it is a serious problem. Just an inconvenience.

Fred
 
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