Gas leak
 

I have smelled gas for some time and the other day when I parked the car, I noticed a large gas stain coming out of the car's gas tank lid. After spending some time cleaning the area... I didn't think too much of it thinking it was my fault that I have not closed the lid securely or not. Anyways... today I smelled the gas again. Althought it didn't leak out as much as it did last time, I noticed the rubber around the cap is wet and soaked with gasoline. I have no idea why. When I unscrewed the cap, it made a hiss sound from the pressure. Could this be a bad gas cap? or somehting bad? I am planning to do a roadtrip May 9th from Columbus to Chicago and would like to know what to do soon so I don't encounter a problem on the way and end up being stuck in some remote part of the country. Thanks in advance!

The "hiss" or "woosh" sound is normal. Your fuel system is pressurized.

Your gas cap gasket is worn out though so when the system is pressurized, fuel can leak past the gasket.

Would think this wouldn't manifest itself except when the take is full (or overfilled)...

Hi G-Benz...

I searched the archives and found a similiar problem with the same engine model. However.. this happened with just a little over a 1/4 tank. I would understand a full tank.. and I never top it. So you think this is just a gas cap?

I would still contend that it is the gas cap.

I can't think of anything else that would backwash out of the tank except for the nominal fuel pressure that is maintained while in operation.

I don't know if the seals are sold seperately, but OEM gas caps aren't very expensive.