I'm finally plagued with the raw fuel smell!

Bubba G · 01-02-2005, 03:44 AM

So I was parked outside at my gf's house tonight. We went out for a bite around 11pm and as I drove for the first 5-10 mins, the notorious raw fuel smell saturated the cabin. First time it ever happened to me. Dammit! Anybody else have the prob lately? I did a search and notice it only happens in cold weather and the fix seems complicated. Anybody have a easier or cheaper way to fix this prob or should I just leave it alone?

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tora · 01-02-2005, 04:07 AM

I had never heard of that but the same thing happened to me on my drive back from Toronto in -18 weather. As soon as it warmed up it went away. I didn't know what to attribute it to...but figured it was the cold loosening or freezing seals or something...

stisp33d · 01-02-2005, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba G

So I was parked outside at my gf's house tonight. We went out for a bite around 11pm and as I drove for the first 5-10 mins, the notorious raw fuel smell saturated the cabin. First time it ever happened to me. Dammit! Anybody else have the prob lately? I did a search and notice it only happens in cold weather and the fix seems complicated. Anybody have a easier or cheaper way to fix this prob or should I just leave it alone?

are you sure no one put a cantalope in your exhaust??!

Bubba G · 01-02-2005, 03:23 PM

Definitely NOT a melon in the exhuast lol!
I'm suprised nobody else encountered this problem, I did some searching on Nasioc and it only happens to early 2002 models in cold temps?
Anybody else try to have this issue or attempted to rectify this problem at the dealer?
I'll probably take mine in on monday and see what they say.

tony_subaru · 01-02-2005, 09:59 PM

We have done some under warranty at the dealership... If you have warranty, I'm sure any Subaru dealer should repair it. If I remember right, Subaru did put a bulitin out on this.

jstbstn · 01-02-2005, 10:48 PM

I got this same thing for the first time this morning.... It scared me at first, thinking what the hell did I brake but as soon as I started driving it went away. Haven't decided whether or not I am going to take it in to get fixed or not yet...we'll see how much it shows up over the next couple weeks.

tora · 01-02-2005, 11:33 PM

When this happened for you guys did you actually see any leaks? I looked under my car and couldn't locate anything, but the smell persisted for about 1.5 days during the cold part of my drive back from Toronto.

Nightrunner · 01-03-2005, 01:56 AM

It never happened to my car. I think the weather is not that cold yet!?

zeroFX · 01-03-2005, 07:38 AM

I just got it tonight. Kinda scared me. I was thinking of calling Docksteader on wednesday.

KIMUTAKU · 01-03-2005, 03:15 PM

i never have this smell from last 2 winters.. and i don't have it yet..

BUT, i did have it when i had my hks uppipe! it was very noticable.. i had catless dp and exhaust, no smell, then put in the uppipe, wow... big smell!

i have the service bulletin printed out last winter too..

Nightrunner · 01-03-2005, 03:31 PM

Do you guys think is the unburn fuel?

Bubba G · 01-03-2005, 03:32 PM

My up pipe is still stock.

I usually park in a garage so I won't notice the smell in the mornings, I'm just worried when I go up to the mountains to baord, it'll get worst.

So I called DD this morning, the service rep said its normal to a certain extent, saying that during cold startups, the car injects extra fuel into the engine or something.............and he said I'll have to bring the car in and leave it overnight for them to further diagnose. I need to use my car daily, so I don't really have time to leave it there overnight. So I'm just crossing my fingers that the leak won't get any worst.

KIMUTAKU · 01-03-2005, 10:13 PM

yea it smells like raw gasoline... like when you are at a gas station filling up..

polaris · 01-04-2005, 02:31 AM

its a known problem, yeah. Its not a recall I think since there is no danger, so the dealer does not have to repair it under warranty, but they might.

Bubba G · 01-04-2005, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polaris

its a known problem, yeah. Its not a recall I think since there is no danger, so the dealer does not have to repair it under warranty, but they might.

You sure its safe? I just freaks me out, the engine is running and my cabin smells like a gas station. As long as its safe, I'll just leave the HVAC on recirculate during cold warmups.

polaris · 01-04-2005, 03:03 AM

I read some thread on here and it was mentioned it was safe, otherwise it would have become a recall. Some 3rd party investigates these problems....it was a USA govern,ment agency of some sort. Search for the thread maybe....I hvae no idea where it was.

lostmind · 01-04-2005, 01:00 PM

damn, I got the same thing last night

Nightrunner · 01-04-2005, 02:38 PM

Just put more air reflesher to put away the smell. Works great!

banman · 01-04-2005, 07:34 PM

There's a huge thread on it:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...5&goto=newpost

I had the "raw fuel" smell problem when I was in Fernie last year and the dealer fixed it for free under the TSB, even though they couldn't replicate it (actually, they didn't even bother trying, since it usually requires cold temps).

I can't see how fuel leaking onto the engine block isnt a safety issue, though.

sovietjet · 01-17-2005, 03:30 AM

I have that smell on cold starts and i have an hks uppipe too

veightkiller · 01-17-2005, 11:22 AM

yup it happens to me.......just leave it...it will go away....mine did...

Bubba G · 01-17-2005, 04:40 PM

It was horrible last week, with temps constantly below freezing! Quite annoying thing, can't believe they don't do like a cold weather testing or use higher quality fuel hoses. Lately I've just learnt to live with it by leaving the HVAC at recirculating for the first 5-10mins of startup.

JasonCSU · 01-18-2005, 01:18 AM

I just noticed it for the first time this winter as well.

01-02-2005, 03:44 AM	#1
Bubba G Scooby Newbie Member#: 63100 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancity Vehicle: 2002 WRX Aspen White Stg 2	I'm finally plagued with the raw fuel smell! So I was parked outside at my gf's house tonight. We went out for a bite around 11pm and as I drove for the first 5-10 mins, the notorious raw fuel smell saturated the cabin. First time it ever happened to me. Dammit! Anybody else have the prob lately? I did a search and notice it only happens in cold weather and the fix seems complicated. Anybody have a easier or cheaper way to fix this prob or should I just leave it alone? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-02-2005, 04:07 AM	#2
tora Scooby Guru Member#: 5851 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver Vehicle: 17 Ford Escape SE Blk	I had never heard of that but the same thing happened to me on my drive back from Toronto in -18 weather. As soon as it warmed up it went away. I didn't know what to attribute it to...but figured it was the cold loosening or freezing seals or something...

01-02-2005, 03:23 PM	#4
Bubba G Scooby Newbie Member#: 63100 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancity Vehicle: 2002 WRX Aspen White Stg 2	Definitely NOT a melon in the exhuast lol! I'm suprised nobody else encountered this problem, I did some searching on Nasioc and it only happens to early 2002 models in cold temps? Anybody else try to have this issue or attempted to rectify this problem at the dealer? I'll probably take mine in on monday and see what they say.

01-02-2005, 09:59 PM	#5
tony_subaru Scooby Specialist Member#: 22742 Join Date: Aug 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Kelowna, BC	We have done some under warranty at the dealership... If you have warranty, I'm sure any Subaru dealer should repair it. If I remember right, Subaru did put a bulitin out on this.

01-02-2005, 10:48 PM	#6
jstbstn Scooby Specialist Member#: 35020 Join Date: Apr 2003 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: [email protected] Vehicle: 02 WRX - Stage WTF 04 WRX Wide Wagon - Stg 3	I got this same thing for the first time this morning.... It scared me at first, thinking what the hell did I brake but as soon as I started driving it went away. Haven't decided whether or not I am going to take it in to get fixed or not yet...we'll see how much it shows up over the next couple weeks.

01-02-2005, 11:33 PM	#7
tora Scooby Guru Member#: 5851 Join Date: Apr 2001 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver Vehicle: 17 Ford Escape SE Blk	When this happened for you guys did you actually see any leaks? I looked under my car and couldn't locate anything, but the smell persisted for about 1.5 days during the cold part of my drive back from Toronto.

01-03-2005, 01:56 AM	#8
Nightrunner Scooby Specialist Member#: 69667 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lost in Memories... Vehicle: JGTC Cusco' STi WR1 Contemporary Hair Design	It never happened to my car. I think the weather is not that cold yet!?

01-03-2005, 07:38 AM	#9
zeroFX Scooby Newbie Member#: 10636 Join Date: Sep 2001 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver, B.C. Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX World Rally Blue Sedan	I just got it tonight. Kinda scared me. I was thinking of calling Docksteader on wednesday.

01-03-2005, 03:15 PM	#10
KIMUTAKU Scooby Specialist Member#: 19776 Join Date: Jun 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver, Canada Vehicle: 2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green	i never have this smell from last 2 winters.. and i don't have it yet.. BUT, i did have it when i had my hks uppipe! it was very noticable.. i had catless dp and exhaust, no smell, then put in the uppipe, wow... big smell! i have the service bulletin printed out last winter too..

01-03-2005, 03:31 PM	#11
Nightrunner Scooby Specialist Member#: 69667 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lost in Memories... Vehicle: JGTC Cusco' STi WR1 Contemporary Hair Design	Do you guys think is the unburn fuel?

01-03-2005, 03:32 PM	#12
Bubba G Scooby Newbie Member#: 63100 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancity Vehicle: 2002 WRX Aspen White Stg 2	My up pipe is still stock. I usually park in a garage so I won't notice the smell in the mornings, I'm just worried when I go up to the mountains to baord, it'll get worst. So I called DD this morning, the service rep said its normal to a certain extent, saying that during cold startups, the car injects extra fuel into the engine or something.............and he said I'll have to bring the car in and leave it overnight for them to further diagnose. I need to use my car daily, so I don't really have time to leave it there overnight. So I'm just crossing my fingers that the leak won't get any worst.

01-03-2005, 10:13 PM	#13
KIMUTAKU Scooby Specialist Member#: 19776 Join Date: Jun 2002 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver, Canada Vehicle: 2012 GVF SWP Ninja Lime Green	yea it smells like raw gasoline... like when you are at a gas station filling up..

01-04-2005, 02:31 AM	#14
polaris Scooby Specialist Member#: 66663 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver BC Vehicle: 2011 VW GTI maybe '15 STI?	its a known problem, yeah. Its not a recall I think since there is no danger, so the dealer does not have to repair it under warranty, but they might.

01-04-2005, 03:03 AM	#16
polaris Scooby Specialist Member#: 66663 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver BC Vehicle: 2011 VW GTI maybe '15 STI?	I read some thread on here and it was mentioned it was safe, otherwise it would have become a recall. Some 3rd party investigates these problems....it was a USA govern,ment agency of some sort. Search for the thread maybe....I hvae no idea where it was.

01-04-2005, 01:00 PM	#17
lostmind Scooby Specialist Member#: 74567 Join Date: Nov 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Port Moody Vehicle: 2006 STi Crystal Grey Metallic	damn, I got the same thing last night

01-04-2005, 02:38 PM	#18
Nightrunner Scooby Specialist Member#: 69667 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Lost in Memories... Vehicle: JGTC Cusco' STi WR1 Contemporary Hair Design	Just put more air reflesher to put away the smell. Works great!

01-04-2005, 07:34 PM	#19
banman Scooby Specialist Member#: 12408 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Lotusland Vehicle: 2020 Model 3 SR+ Gray	There's a huge thread on it: http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...5&goto=newpost I had the "raw fuel" smell problem when I was in Fernie last year and the dealer fixed it for free under the TSB, even though they couldn't replicate it (actually, they didn't even bother trying, since it usually requires cold temps). I can't see how fuel leaking onto the engine block isnt a safety issue, though.

01-17-2005, 03:30 AM	#20
sovietjet Scooby Specialist Member#: 76600 Join Date: Dec 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: deerfield, IL Vehicle: 2008 BMW M3 Blue	I have that smell on cold starts and i have an hks uppipe too

01-17-2005, 11:22 AM	#21
veightkiller Scooby Guru Member#: 78967 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: vancouver B.C Vehicle: 2011 335i Black	yup it happens to me.......just leave it...it will go away....mine did...

01-17-2005, 04:40 PM	#22
Bubba G Scooby Newbie Member#: 63100 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancity Vehicle: 2002 WRX Aspen White Stg 2	It was horrible last week, with temps constantly below freezing! Quite annoying thing, can't believe they don't do like a cold weather testing or use higher quality fuel hoses. Lately I've just learnt to live with it by leaving the HVAC at recirculating for the first 5-10mins of startup.

01-18-2005, 01:18 AM	#23
JasonCSU Scooby Newbie Member#: 40864 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Denver, CO Vehicle: 2003 WRX 2008 BMW 135	I just noticed it for the first time this winter as well.