What would be the cause for fuel smell in a 2004 Grand Caravan?

Answer 1

A fuel smell in the cabin/passenger compartment of a Caravan or similar

Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth minivan could be due to leaking o-rings in the

fuel injector system rail; since each Fuel Injector has two o-rings, these

may have a few cracks in them and high pressure fuel can leak out while

the vehicle is running or driving. It would evaporate (maybe not) and a

wet place on the engine may be unlikely to find, so this indication may

be lost on someone popping open the hood in hopes of isolating a leak.

Another fuel coupling between the fuel rail assembly and the chassis

fuel line on some models can leak, there is one with a vacuum line

into it, and there is a controller module to regulate or sense pressure.

After replacing a failed fuel pump in the gas tank, along with its integrated

fuel stainer, and also the in-line fuel filter should be replaced then, the

pressure from the fuel pump through the fuel system may be quite a bit

higher than it had been for several years; this may help new leaks develop

under the hood, with weakening older rubber o-rings, or in some models,

the fuel injector rail (pipe connecting all injectors to main fuel line) may

have cracks and start leaking at certain running speeds where the pressure

may be higher than that of idle speed pressures.

I am not registered, so I won't likely be back here; I have a 1992 AWD Dodge SE

minivan and in colder weather, the o-rings leaked for a time, then later, I got a

fuel pump & filters replaced, and the leak was worse. Got one leak to the fuel rail

fixed to find one or two injector's o-rings are leaking. This can be costly... as the

problem does not cure any other actual wear items. The vehicle has low miles, too.

So time and rust do not let these products off easy. They are disposable too soon.

And depreciate too much. Van retailed for over $18K in 1992. now 112k mi & $1k!

in a small town

kenai mts ak.