Petrol smell from under car

samuel_m

Dedicated Member
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2025
Points
28
Location
Buckinghamshire, UK
Hi all

Just wondering if anyone’s come across this.

After even just a short drive I’m getting a strong petrol smell, which hits you as soon as you open either door.

It seems to be wafting up from the fuel filter area. The engine bay does not seem to smell. The rubber hose going into the filter is dry, no dripping, but if I run my fingers along it they smell a bit fuel-y.

It’s booked into a garage, because I've not done anything fuel-related myself before. I had the fuel lines checked a month ago and they said the metal lines were solid, no corrosion.

Has anyone else had this?

Was it a straightforward hose swap or did it turn out to be something else worth doing while it’s in?

I have a new Mann filter ready to fit, but no new hoses yet.
 

colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.0i (2007)
Be prudent to put new rubber hoses on the filter given their age they will have deteriorated given their age use good quality jebilee clips to secure them.
 

Smudgemanuk

Zorg Legend
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 1, 2024
Points
74
Location
Bicester, Oxford
Model of Z
2.8l TU pre-facelift z3
If the above doesn't solve it, check the pipes entering the fuel tank vent charcoal canister, located just in front of the NSR wheel underneath the car.

One of the lines going out of the canister had fractured on mine
 
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