I have a 2001 XKR, and when its hot, the gas smell inside is overpowering. Top down, fine. Top closed, it can be strong. So the dealer replaced a hose that was deteriorating the supposedly would cause this but the wife is still smelling it. Any ideas of where to look, what to focus on?

Brad

 

Brad,

As it's model specific, I've moved your question from General Tech Help to XK8/XKR forum.

I 've also made the assumption both mass smell in the title and gas small in the text should read gas smell ........?



Let me know if I'm wrong and I'll do another edit.


Graham

 

Plenty of info in the TSBs for these cars.
Jaguar issued TSBs to aid in diagnose/repair. Read through all of them and most questions are answered to a degree.

bob

 

I would encourage you to use the powerful smell to your advantage and try and identify the source yourself. Start with the highest pressure area first. check everything around the fuel rail. There should be a high pressure supply side and a return, fuel pressure regulator, injectors, etc. The smell should be fairly obvious. Not sure on the earlier car, but the later car also have dampeners that are known to leak, all in the fuel rail area.

The other area to check is everything to do with the evap control. Basically, there is a valve in the driver side wheel well behind the liner that directs fuel vapor from the canisters to the engine under appropriate circumstances. These are known to rust/seize/break and need a replacement.

As usual, check is you have any code. If you have no reader, get a cheap ELM327 from eBay/Amazon and the corresponding app for your mobile device. Or go to a parts place and borrow their (free) reader.

Last, check the TSBs here:

XK8TSB

Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

God I love this forum. Thank you both FMertz and Motorcarman! Not being a mechanic, its frustrating to figure some of this out! I'll follow your advice.

Brad

 

One other thing to check- only because it happened to me: the actual gas tank, check for cracks in seams and other areas you smell. I found a crack in the actual back of the tank- not a seam or anything, just the flat back part. So random.

 

I had fuel smell pretty bad. Was a leak on my fuel rail damper.

 

I have also had the fuel smell. It only happens at startup, so I leave the AC on recirculate, after it warms up a few minutes the odor goes away. I have been trying to identify the source for a while but can not find any leaks and I have replace the purge valve under the wheel well. Keep us updated!

 

The fuel smell on mine was in fact a leak at the fuel pressure sensor, at the end of the fuel rail. Strong smell at startup. After lifting the cosmetic cover, the source was easy to locate. Even if fuel evaporates quickly, the sensor remained damp for long enough for me to locate the source of the leak. That leak made me uneasy, I even carried a fire extinguisher for a while, "just in case". I would encourage you to check this, fuel leaks are not your friend...

 

Same on my 03 we had.

 

I remember reading somewhere in similar threads, that if there is a water leak under the driver door when you park. I am having that issue but i can't remember if it is a result of the Cat sealing to the exhaust or if it was the valve. im probably completely wrong

 

My leak is not at start up but after the car has been on a while- an hour plus. Its gets intense in the cabin, but you can also smell it in the garage after you park it. I cannot find it using the nose method, I'll keep trying.

Brad

 

The tank seal(s) would be my (small) bet.

 

OK, small update. I drove it and got it hot the other day and the smell starts up quite sudden and strong after 90min. SO I stopped got out and did the smell test as you guys suggested. By the gas tank nothing. By the engine under the bonnet, nothing. All around the car nothing. Inside, strong. But by the passenger door down low, WOW. Like gas dripping, so strong. Yet, no gas actually dripping. So now that I've zero'd in the location, time for my friend at the local Jag dealer to have a look. I should note that this is happening at high temps, over 100 outside.

Brad

 

Keep us informed of the results!

 

I wonder if that's where the fuel filter is?

 

I had to implement the entire TSB that Motorcarman posted to fully eradicate the problem in similar location as yours, also on a 2001 XKR.

 

OK, so I think I have my gas leak resolved. I had some fuel evap leaks alright. Finally lit a code up on the car but by then you could smell it a block away. Replaced the fuel tank evaporative flange rubber hoses and lower tank gasket. So about $251 in parts and $750 in labor. He did cover the tech service bulletin posted here but that was not my problem. Old split fuel hoses and purge hoses caused my issue.

Thanks for everything you guys!