Summer Storm
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- Joined
- Jan 15, 2008
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- 29233
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- 46
Owners, does anyone with carburated gas engines have a slight gas smell on clothes, bedding or other items kept aboard?
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Question for Carver aft cabin owners
- Thread starter Summer Storm
- Start date
Carver 3007
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2007
- RO Number
- 24771
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- 64
I own a 1982 3007 and had a slight gasoline smell when boarding, after being away for a couple of weeks once and found a loose hose at a Tee that branched off to the Genset. Screw clamp was broken. Replaced the clamp and we have not had a gasoline smell when we open the boat since.
I would say, a crack in a fuel hose or a broken clamp. Need to trace out the fuel lines.
I would say, a crack in a fuel hose or a broken clamp. Need to trace out the fuel lines.
Even on non-aft cabin models you can get that smell. Nothing like old engines, is there??? Do your engines have Holley carburetors? If so, be sure to tighten up those 4 horizontal screws on each side as they can loosen and cause slight leaks from the float bowls. Be sure your flame arrestors are clean. Also the PCV valves. Check anything that might collect oil/gas vapors, and of course as others have said above, the obvious things like fuel filters. If you have FRAM filters be sure that screw on the bottom of the black bowls is tight - mine was leaking slightly when I bought the boat...
Another suggestion might be to run the bilge blowers for about 10 minutes AFTER you shut the engines down, especially for those with Rochester carbs. I'm not sure why the distinction, but my GM friends have suggested its a good idea and I do it anyway with my Holleys.
Finally, a smell that you can get in the boat that can be confused with a fuel smell is that musty "old boat" smell, which gets into your draperies and bedding and is kinda gross. Or an odor from your sanitation system. So check these things as well - put an air freshener in the cabin, take your draperies and bedding home and wash them, throw away old pillows and get new ones...
Those would be my suggestions to improve cabin odors. But one thing's for sure, if you really think its a gas smell, and its pronounced, don't mess around - check it out carefully and if you can't find anything get a professional to look at it!!!
Another suggestion might be to run the bilge blowers for about 10 minutes AFTER you shut the engines down, especially for those with Rochester carbs. I'm not sure why the distinction, but my GM friends have suggested its a good idea and I do it anyway with my Holleys.
Finally, a smell that you can get in the boat that can be confused with a fuel smell is that musty "old boat" smell, which gets into your draperies and bedding and is kinda gross. Or an odor from your sanitation system. So check these things as well - put an air freshener in the cabin, take your draperies and bedding home and wash them, throw away old pillows and get new ones...
Those would be my suggestions to improve cabin odors. But one thing's for sure, if you really think its a gas smell, and its pronounced, don't mess around - check it out carefully and if you can't find anything get a professional to look at it!!!
Summer Storm
Member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2008
- RO Number
- 29233
- Messages
- 46
Great, thanks for the comments.
The boat is currently outside under shrink wrap to the waterline so that could also be contributing to the smell if the vents are backing up. Overall the boat inside smells clean, in Summer when the air is on smells like a boat show boat (that new smell even though it's 19 years old). I'll be installing Racor fuel water separators this spring so I'll check the lines again. I've checked the tanks, tank elbows and so on and all was good there. Our spring to do list has cleaning the bilge fairly high on the list, it still looks new down there but it's time to spruce it up again. Engines are also scheduled for a tune up and may add the carbs to the list for rebuild as a precaution. Thanks again Don.
The boat is currently outside under shrink wrap to the waterline so that could also be contributing to the smell if the vents are backing up. Overall the boat inside smells clean, in Summer when the air is on smells like a boat show boat (that new smell even though it's 19 years old). I'll be installing Racor fuel water separators this spring so I'll check the lines again. I've checked the tanks, tank elbows and so on and all was good there. Our spring to do list has cleaning the bilge fairly high on the list, it still looks new down there but it's time to spruce it up again. Engines are also scheduled for a tune up and may add the carbs to the list for rebuild as a precaution. Thanks again Don.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
- RO Number
- 26785
- Messages
- 234
We had a similar problem which took weeks to find.
It was really bad after topping off the tanks.
Finally found the problem. The gasket on the level sensor on top of the gas tank was rotted. On filling up gas would bubble out, that's how I finally found it. Looking in the bilge with hot engines is not fun.
During the hot summer's just expansion would force odor's out.
Fifty cent gasket and two hours labor and no more smell.
Good Luck
Abouttime
It was really bad after topping off the tanks.
Finally found the problem. The gasket on the level sensor on top of the gas tank was rotted. On filling up gas would bubble out, that's how I finally found it. Looking in the bilge with hot engines is not fun.
During the hot summer's just expansion would force odor's out.
Fifty cent gasket and two hours labor and no more smell.
Good Luck
Abouttime
I had a bad gas smell last summer when we first bought the boat - turned out both fill hoses were cracked (noticed problem more after filling) and I replaced them which cured that. As Pete says sometimes get 'old boat' smell if everything is closed up but that's different from the distinctive gas smell.
marykhubby
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- Joined
- Mar 16, 2007
- RO Number
- 25522
- Messages
- 584
Only gas smell I ever noticed was from a leaky quadrajet carburator. It was easy to spot (look for the wet carb). The rest of the time I just chase the "old boat" smells like Pete does. Usually curable in winter months with a bulk buy on a pack of solid air fresheners - opened full and strategically placed throughout. Summer does not seem to be a problem, due to frequent use. Good luck! I know you'll enjoy those Raycors.
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2006
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Very good posts. My 3007 has a gas smell when you enter the boat. Also, noticeable when you open the closet in the aft cabin. The back wall is not sealed and I think it vents through it.
Regardless, we need to get it checked out. Will run the bilge pumps too.
-Greg
Regardless, we need to get it checked out. Will run the bilge pumps too.
-Greg
"I don't think there should ever be a gas smell you can ignore."
That's an understatement. Granted, when a boat is closed up for the winter it will be a bit more prone to odors than during the summer, assuming its shrinkwrapped. But still, even under shrinkwrap a fuel leak can be disastrous. Especially if one wants to work on their boat during the winter and turns on a heater!!!
That's an understatement. Granted, when a boat is closed up for the winter it will be a bit more prone to odors than during the summer, assuming its shrinkwrapped. But still, even under shrinkwrap a fuel leak can be disastrous. Especially if one wants to work on their boat during the winter and turns on a heater!!!