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Have a VW Passat Estate, 02. Over the last couple of weeks, have intermittently noticed a slight and brief petrol smell, only when first started in the day, disappears quickly and doesn't reappear when re-started that day. This morning, 2 mins after first starting, there was a steady trickle of petrol from under the tank (near the rear driver's side wheel) of about maybe 1/2 mug. It then stopped and hasn't re-appeared, even on starting the car, and driving around the block.
Any clues before the garage decide to replace everything in sight!
Cheers
Nip over to the Honest John website and stick a post in the Technical Section. Place is frequented by experts and you generally get a reply within the hour. Ignore any sanctimonious posts from someone called L'Escargot, he takes PC to a whole new level.
Its either going to be a leaky hose (cheap part but depending on location could mean draining and dropping the tank) or a blocked evap circuit forcing a leak at a weak point (such as a hose or filler union). Assuming its not dripping near the exhaust you wont blow up (and even if it was you probably wouldnt but safer to assume this way!) but I would get it fixed ASAP. If it decides to drop another half-mug and someone drops a lit cig you could end up with no car at best.
Very hard to identify leaks like this until they decide to leak properly - the hint of petrol vapour takes a lot of tracking down 🙂
thanks!
Just drive along with the doors slightly open so if it does blow up you can make a quick escape. Keep a camcorder at the ready for some great youtube footage too.
Don't smoke.