e90 gas fumes side from rear passenger side

mousefarmer · 10-09-2020, 10:14 PM

I have been looking for fuel pressure leaks in 2006 330i and went to the back seat and found that the drivers side rear (fuel regulator) had some cracks in the plastic. I've sanded and epoxied over it for now so don't really smell any fumes from that anymore.

However, on the other side of backseat, passenger side, the fuel pump has an even stronger fuel smell. I cleaned all the dirt off the top of it and see no cracks in the plastic so am wondering where the fuel smell is coming from. I was thinking maybe the electrical connectors or the vapor line but its hard to tell.

I'm thinking of using soap bubbles to check but not sure the best method. The fuel pressure has been holding pretty steady at 70 PSI with only slow drop.

Does anyone have some tips for this?

vladskies · 10-09-2020, 11:01 PM

Really does sound like it's something with the fuel pump

Unless the smell only occurs when you're dumping gas at a station

But if that's not the case then I would assume fuel pump or a line coming out of it

Try the soap trick

If that doesn't give you any leads then what I would do is take the old ring off, get a new one from fcpeuro, and replace it

Make sure it's nice and tight, my first time doing it didn't go well, and found out at the pump that it leaks when I got over 1/2 tank full

If that doesn't do it then follow the fuel lines

Good luck to you, keeps us updated

smass · 10-10-2020, 09:20 AM

I have had this issue on both 2006s. Both have had both their regulators (drivers side) and pumps (passenger side) replaced. The pump needs to come out to detach the lines that go over to the regulator. There are several good youtube videos that show how to do this.

Your issue is related to vapor pressure and not fuel pressure. In a few rare cases, there have been issues with a cracked charcoal canister but I can't remember what side that was on.

mousefarmer · 10-10-2020, 11:16 AM

I took off the two electrical connectors, degreased and removed all the dirt on the cap and see some small expansion cracks in various spots such as at the bottom of electrical connectors in corners.

After removing the dirt and wiping clean, the smell is much better now. I plan on sanding and epoxying over the cap until I can get part or see how it does.

The pressure readings are still pretty good, stays at around 70PSI after opening doors a few times and overnnight dropped to around 60 PSI in the morning. However, it has been getting into 60's F at night and no more than about 90 F during the day in the garage but when it hotter out, I'm sure the pressure losses will be higher.

I don't think the soap bubbles test will work with such a low loss rate right now.

bleicht · 10-10-2020, 12:18 PM

FWIW, I just had a gas smell in my garage and it seemed to come from my passenger wheel well on my 2008 335. I took the back seat out and found the FPR cracked and leaking so I replaced both the FPR and the entire FP assy on the driver's side as well. The smell is gone.

lowrydr310 · 10-10-2020, 02:18 PM

Did you have any codes? I have been smelling gas from the passenger wheel well on my 325i, then started getting a DMTL code and minor evap leak, but it would go away after resetting. I replaced the DMTL pump, but now I keep getting the larger evap leak code. I did confirm the fuel pump cap has small cracks and that's the source of the fuel smell. Not sure if that's causing the evap codes too.

mousefarmer · 10-10-2020, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Did you have any codes? I have been smelling gas from the passenger wheel well on my 325i, then started getting a DMTL code and minor evap leak, but it would go away after resetting. I replaced the DMTL pump, but now I keep getting the larger evap leak code. I did confirm the fuel pump cap has small cracks and that's the source of the fuel smell. Not sure if that's causing the evap codes too.

Nope, no codes for low fuel pressure, evaporator leak or anything related. My nose is what brought it to my attention.

I'm cleaning up fuel pressure regulator side again now and gonna fill the outer edge with epoxy too. I dropped the fuel pressure from about 60PSI to about 20 PSI while cleaning the perimeter reinforced plastic are below the plastic dome with some toothpicks, degreaser, water and sucking out with shopvac as well as running hair dryer over it.

I suspect doing this was enough to open up the cracks slightly either by vacuuming or by using hot air. The smell of the gas fumes got much worse after and that when PSI drop occurred.

mousefarmer · 10-17-2020, 10:35 AM

The epoxy held fine but the gas fumes or liquid slipped undernear the epoxy so I ended up replacing the fuel regulator and the smell is gone now.

I had to chip off all of the epoxy that settled against the metal ring with a screwdriver and a hammer, though which isn't so much fun around gas fumes.

10-09-2020, 10:14 PM	#1
mousefarmer First Lieutenant 134 Rep 323 Posts Drives: 2007 328i, 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: N/A iTrader: (0)	e90 gas fumes side from rear passenger side I have been looking for fuel pressure leaks in 2006 330i and went to the back seat and found that the drivers side rear (fuel regulator) had some cracks in the plastic. I've sanded and epoxied over it for now so don't really smell any fumes from that anymore. However, on the other side of backseat, passenger side, the fuel pump has an even stronger fuel smell. I cleaned all the dirt off the top of it and see no cracks in the plastic so am wondering where the fuel smell is coming from. I was thinking maybe the electrical connectors or the vapor line but its hard to tell. I'm thinking of using soap bubbles to check but not sure the best method. The fuel pressure has been holding pretty steady at 70 PSI with only slow drop. Does anyone have some tips for this?
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10-09-2020, 11:01 PM	#2
vladskies Private First Class 26 Rep 171 Posts Drives: 2008 335i e90 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Fremont, CA iTrader: (2)	Really does sound like it's something with the fuel pump Unless the smell only occurs when you're dumping gas at a station But if that's not the case then I would assume fuel pump or a line coming out of it Try the soap trick If that doesn't give you any leads then what I would do is take the old ring off, get a new one from fcpeuro, and replace it Make sure it's nice and tight, my first time doing it didn't go well, and found out at the pump that it leaks when I got over 1/2 tank full If that doesn't do it then follow the fuel lines Good luck to you, keeps us updated
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10-10-2020, 09:20 AM	#3
smass Lieutenant Colonel 399 Rep 1,579 Posts Drives: 06 325i - 10 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 E90 335i [0.00] 2016 F15 35i [0.00] 2003 E53 3.0 [0.00] 2006 E90 325i [0.00]	I have had this issue on both 2006s. Both have had both their regulators (drivers side) and pumps (passenger side) replaced. The pump needs to come out to detach the lines that go over to the regulator. There are several good youtube videos that show how to do this. Your issue is related to vapor pressure and not fuel pressure. In a few rare cases, there have been issues with a cracked charcoal canister but I can't remember what side that was on.
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10-10-2020, 11:16 AM	#4
mousefarmer First Lieutenant 134 Rep 323 Posts Drives: 2007 328i, 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: N/A iTrader: (0)	I took off the two electrical connectors, degreased and removed all the dirt on the cap and see some small expansion cracks in various spots such as at the bottom of electrical connectors in corners. After removing the dirt and wiping clean, the smell is much better now. I plan on sanding and epoxying over the cap until I can get part or see how it does. The pressure readings are still pretty good, stays at around 70PSI after opening doors a few times and overnnight dropped to around 60 PSI in the morning. However, it has been getting into 60's F at night and no more than about 90 F during the day in the garage but when it hotter out, I'm sure the pressure losses will be higher. I don't think the soap bubbles test will work with such a low loss rate right now.
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10-10-2020, 12:18 PM	#5
bleicht Private 8 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 08 335i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	FWIW, I just had a gas smell in my garage and it seemed to come from my passenger wheel well on my 2008 335. I took the back seat out and found the FPR cracked and leaking so I replaced both the FPR and the entire FP assy on the driver's side as well. The smell is gone.
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10-10-2020, 02:18 PM	#6
lowrydr310 Robot 1691 Rep 2,192 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2007 E93 335i Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Souhtrne Califniora iTrader: (0)	Did you have any codes? I have been smelling gas from the passenger wheel well on my 325i, then started getting a DMTL code and minor evap leak, but it would go away after resetting. I replaced the DMTL pump, but now I keep getting the larger evap leak code. I did confirm the fuel pump cap has small cracks and that's the source of the fuel smell. Not sure if that's causing the evap codes too.
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10-17-2020, 10:35 AM	#8
mousefarmer First Lieutenant 134 Rep 323 Posts Drives: 2007 328i, 2006 330i Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: N/A iTrader: (0)	The epoxy held fine but the gas fumes or liquid slipped undernear the epoxy so I ended up replacing the fuel regulator and the smell is gone now. I had to chip off all of the epoxy that settled against the metal ring with a screwdriver and a hammer, though which isn't so much fun around gas fumes.
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