inside of my '87 jaguar smells like gasoline
 

Okay, I'm really starting to kill brain cells on the way to work. This is my first jag, and it smells like gasoline like crazy on the inside. The trunk doesn't smell, or the engine compartment. ONLY the inside. I read that there are some things that might be leaking under or behind the rear seat, but I've taken the booth seat out and can't find anything. Can anyone give me advice for where to search? both tanks seem to be holding pressure when opened, and I can't find anything leaking under the spare tire. Any help would be great!

This may be a silly suggestion, but check if the gas cap is on tight.

As I am "downunder" and we did NOT get the pollution stuff you did, so I have NO first hand knowledge of your systems.

I have read somewhere that there are vent/vapour tubes up under the rear parcel shelf, on the underside, and that they do rot out and vapours are released, BUT, I reckon the boot (trunk) would stink as well.

Mmmmm, another sip of wine and the brain cells kicked in, your car has 2 fuel lines, 1 on the RH side (supply) and 1 on the LH side (return), and where these pipes go over the rear suspension cradle are short pieces of fuel hose, and they are right up on top of the cradle, following the curve of the chassis rail, and are mongrels to replace, BUT, THEY LEAK, and the cabin of the car is the place the stink goes, NO IDEA why, it just does.

My XJ-S was ferrel in this stink, and took some finding, and once replaced the stink was gone.

Our S2 V12 was the same, they were only slightly damp sometimes, but it only takes one drop of fuel to stink out a whole cabin.

Under the rear parcel shelf and at the top of the trunk (UK = boot), there is an assembly of pipes and rubber connecting tubes which collect fuel vapour form the petrol tanks and direct it to a carbon-filled canister, from whence it is ocasionally purged by the engine inlet side, the exact method I don't know as US cars are more complex.

However, the key thing is that these pipes are very close to the air vents for the passenger compartment, that vent cabin air to the trunk and then out. The rubber pipes are just a push fit, because there is no pressure in these pipes, but over time, I assume the "grip" of the rubber deteriorates as the rubber hardens up.

I will definitely check out the lines under the back shelf. I noticed that when the left gas tank is running on empty the smell is less apparant. I wonder if i also have a leak in that tank somewhere. I guess I might try to take off that quarter panel when I get the time and check out that tank.

I concur, it almost has to be under the rear shelf. Start there first.

the drains below the rear parcel shelf tend to get clogged and then they let water into the parcel shelf area which corrodes the evap pipeing which then allows the fuel smell in the car...i tore all mine out and just ran the pipeing direct to the charcoal canister...

and here is a thread for your reference
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...pproach-54422/

Hello,

I had the same issue.. I am not sure if it's the same but, you might want to check your gas tank rubber seal ( where you actually put the gas in ) if you overflow the gas it leaks through the rubber into the trunk behind the lining. take the cap off and clean or vaccum the rubber and see if its cracked. The cheapest way to fix it is to buy yourself a bike tire and improvise. I hope this helps..Good Luck !!!