gas fumes in cabin in cold weather

[shawnhill]

I have a 2000 Outback with automatic transmission. The car runs great
and the engine light never comes on. Sometimes, in the winter, I will
start the car and gas fumes will fill the cabin when the heater is on.
When the gas fumes are present, they really pour into the cabin at
every stop light too. The problem is really inconsistent. It seems to
happen more frequently when I make short trips. This could just be a
result of highway driving blowing away the fumes. I had it checked out
by the dealer, but they said they didn't find anything wrong. I had it
checked out by an independent mechanic, he said it sounded like a gas
leak, but could not find any leaks. Let me know if anybody else has
had this problem or if you have any ideas about what might be causing
the fumes. Thanks!

 

[Mike]

This is common. Loose fuel line clamps from the fuel lines shrinking because
of the cold.

 

[Porgy Tirebiter]

I have a 2000 Outback with automatic transmission. The car runs great
and the engine light never comes on. Sometimes, in the winter, I will
start the car and gas fumes will fill the cabin when the heater is on.
When the gas fumes are present, they really pour into the cabin at
every stop light too. The problem is really inconsistent. It seems to
happen more frequently when I make short trips. This could just be a
result of highway driving blowing away the fumes. I had it checked out
by the dealer, but they said they didn't find anything wrong. I had it
checked out by an independent mechanic, he said it sounded like a gas
leak, but could not find any leaks. Let me know if anybody else has
had this problem or if you have any ideas about what might be causing
the fumes. Thanks!

It is a KNOWN problem with Subaru!
The clamps on the fuel lines DO LEAK in cold weather. Subaru knows about it,
the dealers know about it. Subaru wont fix it!
here is the problem....
They leak when its *COLD*. By the time you get it to the dealer it's
warm..problem gone...
Subaru has been really "Chicken Shit" about it. have the hoses and clamps
replaced with good stuff. Fires have been reported from this.

 

[worzacct]

I have noticed the same problem with my 2000 Ouback (4 cylinder with
automatic). The gasoline smell occurs intermittently, but seems worse
when it gets very cold -- a very strong smell of gasoline in the
morning when I start the car when the overnight temp is below 25
degrees. I have asked my Subaru dealer to check it out, but the
temperature was warmer whenever I took it in. I would like to hear if
anyone has any ideas for this.

 

[Vanguard]

I have a 2000 Outback with automatic transmission. The car runs great
and the engine light never comes on. Sometimes, in the winter, I will
start the car and gas fumes will fill the cabin when the heater is on.
When the gas fumes are present, they really pour into the cabin at
every stop light too. The problem is really inconsistent. It seems
to
happen more frequently when I make short trips. This could just be a
result of highway driving blowing away the fumes. I had it checked
out
by the dealer, but they said they didn't find anything wrong. I had
it
checked out by an independent mechanic, he said it sounded like a gas
leak, but could not find any leaks. Let me know if anybody else has
had this problem or if you have any ideas about what might be causing
the fumes. Thanks!

Take it to a muffler shop for a free inspection. Could be one of the
gaskets between the pipe pieces has crumbled and letting out fumes
before the tailpipe, so they roll up around the engine or mid-frame and
you smell them with the air intake picking up the rising fumes.

I'm not sure if "gas fumes", to you, means the smell of gasoline or the
smell of exhaust. If it were gasoline then, like others, I'd be looking
at the fuel lines, the rubber ones. I've never had the smell but then I
replace my own fuel filter and use screw-down clamps instead of springy
wire bales. I've also replaced their rubber hoses on a couple of my
Subies simply because the hose gets stretched too much and their rubber
hoses aren't very good for repeated wear (i.e., once or twice you have
to yank those hoses the less likely they will seal). The length of
rubber hose isn't very long (in my cars) since the metal tube is at the
firewall not too far from the filter, so I just buy a couple feet and
replace it when I replace the fuel filter (that is, I replaced their
hose with better hose and haven't done it since). The hoses that I get
are also thicker so I can use the screw-down clamps which provided a
wide pressure & contact area instead of just around the wires for the
plier-clamp types. If it about time in the maintenance schedule to
replace the fuel filter, get new and thicker hoses along with screw-down
clamps. Easier to take off, easier to put on, and wider seal area under
the flat band clamp.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I have a 2000 Outback with automatic transmission. The car runs great
and the engine light never comes on. Sometimes, in the winter, I will
start the car and gas fumes will fill the cabin when the heater is on.

Yup, exact same problem, 2000 OBW with a manual transmission this time.
I first noticed it last winter, during a really really cold day (below
-10C). Occurred briefly this winter too (but it's not been really all
that cold around here this year so far).

Yousuf Khan

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

It is a KNOWN problem with Subaru!
The clamps on the fuel lines DO LEAK in cold weather. Subaru knows about it,
the dealers know about it. Subaru wont fix it!
here is the problem....
They leak when its *COLD*. By the time you get it to the dealer it's
warm..problem gone...
Subaru has been really "Chicken Shit" about it. have the hoses and clamps
replaced with good stuff. Fires have been reported from this.

There was a recall on some WRXs (or STis ???) involving a fuel crossover
leaking when cold IIRC.
I am unaware of an unusual number of fires from the issue though. There
have been a coupla door fires on Outbacks, probably from rearview mirror
heaters - but that is inconclusive.

hmmmm

Carl

 

[Porgy Tirebiter]

There was a recall on some WRXs (or STis ???) involving a fuel crossover
leaking when cold IIRC.
I am unaware of an unusual number of fires from the issue though. There
have been a coupla door fires on Outbacks, probably from rearview mirror
heaters - but that is inconclusive.

hmmmm

Carl

I also remember some other electrical issues, will have to go look over the
write-ups on them. Something about amplifiers burning up..

 

[shawnhill]

That is what I was looking for. Thanks to everyone for your help.

 

[malacai]

FWIW, I took my 2002 Outback Wagon to the dealership today and
complained of the same problem.

Right there in the pull-up area, the tech said "Oh, you’re the 4th
one today". (It’s 4 degrees outside) So, the guy whipped out a
screwdriver and tightened all the fuel line clamps and it doesn’t
smell anymore.

I’ll probably experiment with adding locking nuts on the bottom of the
screws to see if that helps

 

[rrp268]

I have a 2001 Forester, same issue... how hard is it to tighten them
myself

 

[phoboyjimmy]

All you need is a Philips screwdriver. I'm not sure how the Forester
engine bay looks like, but in my Outback engine bay, on the right side
near the firewall is a dark gray/black canister. You follow that to
where the fuel crossover rails are. Just tighten the screws. You can
usually see the gas on the metal shortly after you start the car.

HTH