Question

Why do I smell gasoline from my car after filling the gas tank?

When I filled my gasoline tank today at the gas station I noticed a gasoline smell coming from under my hood or at least it seemed like it was coming from under the hood.

Why would my car smell like gasoline after I fill up the gasoline tank?

The gas smell seemed to go away after driving awhile and when I got home I didn't smell the gasoline smell as bad as I did when I first filled it up.

Answer 1

My car sometime smells like gasoline too when I fill the gasoline tank and I took it to a mechanic and he said that it was just my charcoal canister releasing the gasoline vapors that it was absorbing.

My charcoal canister is under the hood near the front of the car on the drivers side and has a tube running from the gas tank to the engine as well.

The smell only happens when I fill the gas tank and then goes away as the gasoline level in the tank goes down.

Some vehicles and trucks have the charcoal canister on the side frame under the vehicle.

If the smell does go away then it's likely the charcoal canister just releasing gasoline vapors which is normal.

But do check around the cars engine just to be sure you don't have a gasoline leak which could cause a fire.