Topic

Hi folks, been a while

big problem here, got a very strong petrol smell,
me having dead nose, it was spotted by everyone else, though made me sick on the last run,

No drips, took it to local garage after a fortnight or more, said it may be VVC?
or it maybe the cylinder head?

nothing showing at last emissions test, any one give a clue,
re' VVC what is it and how much are they.
looks like we'll try this replace it, if that don't work, replace that? ad infinite-um. help.

I am surprised that the garage didn't also say it was HGF as well, i don't think they know what they are talking about!!! VVC is the Variable Valve Control system on the cylinder head and would not cause a Petrol smell, It is most likely a pipe disconnected from the Charcoal Canister fuel vapour collecting system or a small leak on one of the pipes from the fuel pump, through the filter to the fuel rail on the inlet manifold. Be interesting to see what others suggest on here.

... I agree pretty much with everything Bryan's suggested.

Have you noticed perfomance tailing off suggesting a leak from the fuel line?

Is your petrol cap sealing and locking properly?


... oh and a free handy hint is keep naked flames well away until you've sorted it out.

Maybe I should have mentioned I have not been able to 'rev' over 5000 RPM,
electrics cut out, not fuel, not that I want too, but did try,
thank you Brian, you young wipper snapper.

A classic reason that VVcs won't rev past 5000 is that the two electrical VVC plugs have been inadvertently swapped around.

THIS IS CORRECT. Courtesy of Clive.

There was a problem with early MGF fuel tanks becoming porous leading to a smell of petrol in the cabin. They sorted this for the MY2000 (Mk II) and TF by redesigning the fuel tank.

Besides the checks Bryan mentioned above you should also look at the fuel pump gasket.

Thank you very much chaps,
Yellow is running extremely well now,
my guess is the plugs (blue/brown)were reversed,
>Garage guy said no, but it miraculously fixed itself afterwards

Since I had to replace the fuel pump I have been getting a lot of petrol fumes into the cabin when the tank is full.
Next step is to reseal the access hatch and see if that cures it.

Been there done that when I had my smell of petrol recently, so I changed the hose clips to jubilees and the smell went.

Then like some demented imbecile I thought, why don't I take a look at the fuel pump I've nothing better to do. So I removed the hatch...any way you'll know the rest, smell is back.

So this weekend it will be out with the glue......

I tell you what is surprising tho' sometimes you are surprised how easily petrol smells are cured, for instance when I changed my hose clips I couldn't see for the life of me how changing the clips would be enough.