weird gas smell

[fixuS]

Ok so I sold my grand am for 800 with a blown engine.

I just bought a Monte Carlo Z34 for 3500$ with 79k miles on it, and as I am driving, I can smell the fumes of gasoline when I accelerate. I also notice a difference in gas mileage (very poor mileage). I heard that the problem could be a faulty fuel sensor.

Another thing, there is a blueish smoke coming out of the exhaust when I start the car up and when I push the gas pedal down.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

p.s - sorry if this thread isnt in the right spot.

[HornetGT141]

I'm not sure if the fuel smell is also a Fuel Pressure Regulator if the engine on the Z34 even has one. I'm not familiar with that car at all.

The blueish smoke coming out of your exhaust is burning oil of some sort and you need to find out where it is coming from.

[Zohie]

Maybe it's something you ate...



J/P . . . sorry, couldn't help myself. *re-reads title* Ooohhh!!

[rixGAphx]

What year is the car, what engine, what tranny?
Is the CE/SES light 'on'; if so, what are the scanned codes?
* * *

'Weird' gas smell?
Or does it smell like 'normal' gasoline???

"...as I am driving, I can smell the fumes of gasoline when I accelerate."

So you have TWO problems:
1. Some part of the engine/fuel system is leaking gasoline (or too much gas is going into the engine and is not being burned, then exiting as rich exhaust); and,
2. Somehow, those gasoline fumes are getting into the cabin (which they should never do, regardless of the source of the leaking gas or rich exhaust).
And a third problem, poor fuel consumption.

The engines in the Monte Carlo are completely different from those in the GA, so you would be better served to find a Monte Carlo board.
I *think* the MC is the same as a Pontiac Gran Prix.
I think the 3800 is the 'basic' V6 engine used in both of these cars.
The 3500 *might* be the engine in your car.
I *think* the 3500 is a balance-shaft version of the 4.3 V6, with OHV instead of the 3800's DOHC.
The 4.3 V6 is a Chevy 350 V8 wih 2 cylnders whacked-off.
The 350 and the 4.3 have been notorious for 25+ years as burning oil from faulty valve seals; as the engine ages, the seals harden and allow oil to travel down the valve stems and into the valve runners. It burns-off upon start-up.
One of the great mysteries of modern industry is why f@#$%ing GM didn't cure the problem within the first 2 DECADES!!! banghead:

All FI engines have some sort of Fuel Pressure Regulator, and (nearly) all GM engines have one just like that of the GA: Little tin can on the end of the fuel rail.
When it leaks, one of the symptoms *can* be strong odor of gasoline, but that's very unusual.

I would be more tempted to look for an actual loose fuel line, squirting fuel onto the intake manifold.
Mebbe even an injector leaking at it's O-ring on the fuel rail (though I don't know what these engines' fuel rail are like).

All of the air, fumes, and vapors under the hood *should* exit UNDER the car, not thru the hood-cowl space.
The HVAC *should* be sucking fresh air from the cowl.
so underhood gasoline fumes still *should not* make it into the cabin where they could be smelled.

I don't understand how the gas fumes can get to your nose, in the cabin.

Hope this helps,
-Rick

[HornetGT141]

I think with the GM V-6/8s we can assume the rail is going to be on top of the block and be quite similar to the 3.1/3.4 on our GMs Rick.

Correct me if I'm wrong someone but didn't the have a 3.1L engine for 95-99 Monte Carlos?