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YACT: Strong gasoline smell coming from the engine bay.

J

jtusa

Diamond Member
Looks like there might be a leak from where the air filter housing meets what I think is the throttle body('88 TBI 5.7L Chevy Silverado). I'm good at fixing things, but not good at diagnosing the problems so help me out if you can.

ETA: At first I was thinking it might be the throttle body gasket, but like I said, I think the leak is coming from above the TB, not below, where the gasket would be. I fear it may be the fuel injectors...

Update:

Turns out over the years the air cleaner housing had rubbed up against the throttle body and filed it down enough to create a gasoline leak. When I got a really good look at I realized the leak was a lot worse than I had originally thought and was most definitely a fire hazard. I was lucky I didn't turn into a big ball of fire going down the highway. So new throttle body on and I'm good to go. It was an expensive part, but it's cheaper than a car payment. 🙂

Anyway, just thought I'd give a followup. Thanks for the replies though.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Why would there be a leak in that location? Is it a FI car or not?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Throttle Body Injected/Fuel Injected, which I was under the impression are similar. I don't know if that's where it is, but that's the only wet/damp area I can see on the motor when it's been running.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Why would there be a leak in that location? Is it a FI car or not?
Click to expand...


TBI is standard throttle body, not TPI (tuned port injection). Technically it is FI.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: SampSon
Why would there be a leak in that location? Is it a FI car or not?
Click to expand...

reading comprehension for the win.
Click to expand...
I don't know what TBI means. Assumptions FTL.
Click to expand...

As mentioned earlier, it stands for Throttle Body Injection, calling it true fuel injection is laughable at best, more like a hack half-assed attempt. As for the OP, I have never worked on a TBI system before, but I would try to determine if the fuel leak is external (from the pressurized feed) or internal (after the injector(s) it/themselves). My guess, if it is running ok, that it is external. Do those have two injectors, fuel rail? Like I said, I have only dealt with port fuel injection, and have no idea how those TBI systems work...
 
Originally posted by: laurenlex
Put diesel in it. If you smell diesel, it's definelty a fuel problem 😀

Sorry, free bump???
Click to expand...

Haha, I know it's a fuel problem because I can smell the fuel!
 
Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: SampSon
Why would there be a leak in that location? Is it a FI car or not?
Click to expand...

reading comprehension for the win.
Click to expand...
I don't know what TBI means. Assumptions FTL.
Click to expand...

As mentioned earlier, it stands for Throttle Body Injection, calling it true fuel injection is laughable at best, more like a hack half-assed attempt. As for the OP, I have never worked on a TBI system before, but I would try to determine if the fuel leak is external (from the pressurized feed) or internal (after the injector(s) it/themselves). My guess, if it is running ok, that it is external. Do those have two injectors, fuel rail? Like I said, I have only dealt with port fuel injection, and have no idea how those TBI systems work...
Click to expand...
😕

TBI is real fuel injection. Back in the day we had mechanical fuel injection.

FI is FI, whether it is EFI, MFI, TPI, SFI or any other FI.

The injectors on a TBI are located partially inside the thottlebody.

It is similar to a carb, but its still FI.

my car has BFFI (batch fire fuel injection)

 
Originally posted by: jtusa
Looks like there might be a leak from where the air filter housing meets what I think is the throttle body('88 TBI 5.7L Chevy Silverado). I'm good at fixing things, but not good at diagnosing the problems so help me out if you can.

ETA: At first I was thinking it might be the throttle body gasket, but like I said, I think the leak is coming from above the TB, not below, where the gasket would be. I fear it may be the fuel injectors...
Click to expand...
Check the fuel line to the TBI. Look for leaks or look for a build up of gunk. Leaks usually attract dirt.
 
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
😕

TBI is real fuel injection. Back in the day we had mechanical fuel injection.

FI is FI, whether it is EFI, MFI, TPI, SFI or any other FI.

The injectors on a TBI are located partially inside the thottlebody.

It is similar to a carb, but its still FI.

my car has BFFI (batch fire fuel injection)
Click to expand...

OK, that was probably harsh or whatever, but if even Ford was using port fuel injection on their Ranger in '85 and Toyota has been using it since the late '70s (albeit with crappy air flow meters) then there is really no reason to be using such a primitive fuel injection system on such a late model vehicle. (Even from the cost-cutting kings)

BTW, what is BFFI?
 
Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
Originally posted by: Iron Woode
😕

TBI is real fuel injection. Back in the day we had mechanical fuel injection.

FI is FI, whether it is EFI, MFI, TPI, SFI or any other FI.

The injectors on a TBI are located partially inside the thottlebody.

It is similar to a carb, but its still FI.

my car has BFFI (batch fire fuel injection)
Click to expand...

OK, that was probably harsh or whatever, but if even Ford was using port fuel injection on their Ranger in '85 and Toyota has been using it since the late '70s (albeit with crappy air flow meters) then there is really no reason to be using such a primitive fuel injection system on such a late model vehicle. (Even from the cost-cutting kings)

BTW, what is BFFI?
Click to expand...
Ford was using CFI (Central Fuel Injection basically TBI) on their 302's back in 1985.

BFFI = Batch Fire Fuel Injection. That is what is on my 1987 Crown vic.

Chevy's version was MPFI. Multi-Point Fuel Injection.

 
TBI is fuel injection only by the loosest definition. It is essentially a carb with a fuel injector instead of jet and float. Sure, the injector is there, but actual operation and performance is scarcely different than a regular carb.
 
Turns out over the years the air cleaner housing had rubbed up against the throttle body and filed it down enough to create a gasoline leak. When I got a really good look at I realized the leak was a lot worse than I had originally thought and was most definitely a fire hazard. I was lucky I didn't turn into a big ball of fire going down the highway. So new throttle body on and I'm good to go. It was an expensive part, but it's cheaper than a car payment. 🙂

Anyway, just thought I'd give a followup. Thanks for the replies though.
 
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