Newbie Alert ! - Is it usual to have a bit of a Gas Smell !

[poormansporsche]

alright peeps,

First Post !

Havent got my paperwork to hand so have not got a clue what system I have but my car is a Merc C230K.

Anyway whilst sitting in traffic I occasionally get a bit of a gas smell and sometimes when the tank is in reserve I get a gas smell (and when I fill up). Its not overpowering just a bit concerning. Is this normal or should I be getting it looked at ??? Im in South East london is there any good servicing places as the nearest I can find is Wandsworth (PITA to get to) or Barking

cheers

Brett

[rossko]

There's something wrong. It might be unburnt fuel from the exhaust, rather than a leak, but that would still be wrong.

There is an inevitable spill of a teaspoon of gas when you detach the filler gun, of course that smells. If you mean something else smelly about filling, you'll have to spell it out?

[poormansporsche]

cheers. yep smell of gas once filled up, not so bothered about that as the gas smell may be from the "detach" blast. Most concern is the smell whilst driving when the tank is low but its rather off and on. If its not normal thats fine will get it looked at. Just need to find someone good local to me.

[Tubbs]

I think we need to know a bit more about what kind of system it is. If its an older single point system then sometimes they can be a bit smelly, especially if the reducer is aged. A sequential injection system shouldn't smell at all. It's more possible that a single point can, just due to volume of gas. Either way you should get it looked at though.

[poormansporsche]

Thanks. Will dig out the paperwork or post some pics as I know zip about LPG systems

Anyway bit of a update I think the gas smell may be coming through the centre vents . I have no air con and the centre vents on old mercs do not go through the heater matrix they drawer air directly from below the windscreen. only the side vents give out heat. So if there is a leak its coming from the engine end and not the tank end

[poormansporsche]

righty. Been sniffing under the bonnet and there is no smell from the injectors or fuel rail but there is a slight smell coming from the filter area, there seems to be a slight leak of somthing as shown in the pic - is this a pump or something ?

[rossko]

That's the regulator (aka reducer aka vaporiser). Worth tightening the bolts on that round cover perhaps.

[Runner1234]

Tighten all jubilees on the Lpg system. With a big big screwdriver
I speak from experience

[mat_fenwick]

Can't see any Jubilee clips on the LPG part of the system in that picture

[Automods]

I thought jubilee clips were a No No !!

[Tubbs]

The canister on the left of the pic is the filter. But it's all done using click clips. Which are generally trouble free. You can buy a can of leak detector fluid from any good motor factors or any plumb centre. I would invest in a can and see what you can see.

[richard_ha]

The fact you can see the darker area around the reducer seems to give away that it is leaking as you say.

[poormansporsche]

The click clips didn't seem as tight as the could be so ended up swapping for jubilee clips but made no difference.

I soaked everything with washing up liquid and couldn't see any bubbles so will invest in some of that leak detector stuff.

There's a internal gasket repair kit for my regulator on ebay for 20 quid so will give that a go.

Hasn't been a complete waste of time though as whilst under the bonnet I noticed that the main air feed pipe wasn't actually joined to my supercharger !! No wonder I had a lack of boost thought it was just the LPG !!

[poormansporsche]

hi, ive discovered where the leak is I think, its the big bolt right at the bottom of the regulator

so how do you shut the gas supply of to the front - i assumed it was this knob but ive turned it clockwise as far as it goes but it made no difference - I turned it anti clockwise as far as i dared but the knob got a bit loose !

any ideas ?? and wheres the knob supposed to be for normal running ???

cheers

Brett

[demonicwillow]

That knob is purely retaining the big cover on top of the tank so tighten it down again, when the engine is off the system is sealed by the electronic solenoid valves, one at the tank and one at the vaporiser, there will be lpg in liquid form in the pipes and when a pipe is GENTLY undone it will escape as a gas then gradually stop, the same as when removing the filling nozzle at the pump so ideally a pair of gloves to be worn, but personally I would get it to a pro if you dont know much about lpg (note being rude or derogatory) but if you do tackle the job dont turn any other adjustable looking knobs/nuts etc on the vaporiser as this will alter the settings, not knowing what vaporiser you have the big bolt at the bottom maybe for draining heavy ends, a gloopy brown substance thats in the lpg for lubricating the lpg delivery pumps at the fuel station, but it may also be some sort of cover securing nut.

[poormansporsche]

Thanks, No 2 ways about it I am a Idiot - ive set 2 cars on fire and that was just with electrics let alone gas !!

Basically im booked in to have it looked at plus a service but they cant fit me in for a week so just wanted to find the leak before I took it in.

Anyway this is the bolt - you can see the bubbles ! Doesnt look like an adjustable bolt in my dense eyes !

[demonicwillow]

Thats a drain for heavy ends, ideally run the engine so the vap gets hot but not so hot you cant touch it, then remove the plug and if any gloop is in there it should run out quite easily, however, looking at the state of that vap its possible that its leaking coolant as well, possibly a diaphragm is split and lpg is getting into the coolant, be worth removing the cooling system cap and checking with the engine running on lpg if there are constant bubbles coming out, which could be an indication of your smelly gas symptom.

[poormansporsche]

well ive just bit the bullet and ordered a new vapouriser just cannot be bothered to faff about any more

Thanks for everyones help - mucho appreciated

[Tubbs]

It may not be as 'plug and play' as you hope it is. The reducer may be at a different pressure. May not. I would honestly leave it until you take it to the LPG place. Or you may end up doing more harm than good. It's obviously not a big leak, or you would have spotted it by now.

[poormansporsche]

Yep that's the plan. Your not ever down London way Mr Tubbs ???