For about a month now -- which means it predates my fuel leak problem, fixed by replacing the cold start valve -- my mileage has been suffering (about 3-4 lost MPG on average) and the car has a very rich smell.

The rich smell is only when it's sufficiently warmed up, and idling/sitting in traffic. I about choked the other night in a drive-thru line at a McDonald's.

Now that the CSV has been replaced, I can find no evidence of leaks. The car starts fine. It doesn't "chug". No black smoke out the tailpipes that I can see. No change to running/driving or idling. But there's a horrific gasoline smell about the car under the warmed up/idling conditions described above.

Where to look first?

Jess

 

If you're smelling raw gasoline you either A) have a leak or B) the engine is running extremely rich......so rich that you'd surely hear/feel/see some evidence. Borderline 'flooding'. That doesn't appear to be the case.

Just for the heck of it, though, here's a little reading on rich mixture problems

XJ6 Series - EFI Rich Mixture

I'd look for a leak, knowing that a small leak can give a big odor.

A couple oft-unseen sources are the small connector hose at the very front of the cylinder head (probably buried under globs of dirt and grease) and the fuel cooler hoses down near the compressor

Cheers
DD

 

I might add :

Have a look at the ai8r cleaner element. Recent change? cleaned? Why do I suggest this ? Don't ask, .a dirty one caused me a lot o grief.


Carl