GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

2008 Pontiac Vibe. About 61,000 miles. Overdue for an oil change about 1000 miles or so. I went to get it done, but my Girlfriend argued that she had to take her Daughter somewhere, so I couldn't. Then I let it slip and can't get it done until this weekend coming up.Anyway, the other night we stopped for gas. It smelled like gas afterwards. We thought maybe it's just 'cause we went to the gas station.Tonight I am clearing the snow out so we can go to work in the morning and I turn on the car and heater and smell gas. The tailpipe was not covered up. She had to drive to work today, so I had no time to open the hood and inspect for any leaks.I opened up a topic on another forum I frequent and have gotten a lot of suggestions so far, but thought I'd ask here too:http://www.atariage.com/forums...times/

Last winter my '09 would always smell like gas when the heat was on and the car was setting still or driving at city speeds. I took it to the dealer (under warranty) and they said they could smell it but had no idea. It would do it no matter how much gas was in the tank, full, half, or nearly empty. It eventually went away, I've only gotten the smell once or twice this winter. I know this is of no help, but I have the same smell.

The smell almost certainly has to do with the evaporative emission system, a.k.a. closed fuel system. One thing you can do to help the situation is to make sure you do not overfill the tank. Stop after one or two clicks of the fuel nozzle.Overfilling can cause raw, liquid fuel into the hoses meant to carry only vapor and overtax/saturate the charcoal canister.If neither of you have been doing that, then there is certainly a leak in the system somewhere. A cracked hose, fitting or faulty canister, etc.

Thanks for the info. Glad to know we're not the only ones.I can say this.. she drove it to work today and back and I drove to the supermarket and back once and no smell so far.The last time we got gas it was in the snow and I was the one who put the cap back on, but I didn't fill the tank. I think I put in $20 bucks and everyone knows that's not a fill these days.

Quote, originally posted by yuppicide »Thanks for the info. Glad to know we're not the only ones.I can say this.. she drove it to work today and back and I drove to the supermarket and back once and no smell so far.The last time we got gas it was in the snow and I was the one who put the cap back on, but I didn't fill the tank. I think I put in $20 bucks and everyone knows that's not a fill these days.That would still be a "fill" if you never let the tank get much below 1/2 full.As for stopping after one or two clicks of the fuel nozzle, best practice is to stop when it first clicks off unless you know for sure that it was premature.

Quote, originally posted by yuppicide »Thanks for the info. Glad to know we're not the only ones.I can say this.. she drove it to work today and back and I drove to the supermarket and back once and no smell so far.The last time we got gas it was in the snow and I was the one who put the cap back on, but I didn't fill the tank. I think I put in $20 bucks and everyone knows that's not a fill these days.While others may have a recurring issue, in your case maybe it will work out that while at the gas station in the snow, you accidentally tracked in some gas that a previous customer spilled in the slush.I always fill it up till it clicks, then squeeze in more to get the cost to the next even dollar. I know some say this will kill my car, but I can't help myself.

Well, no problems since those two times.

Well, that's GREAT!! But be sure you do not overfill the tank from now on and if the smell returns at least you would have eliminated one possibility.

In my owners manual ,I have a 09 base,it states after 5hrs the car does some kind of fuel evaporation thing,could be a malfunction.