Gas fumes

[Dragonrider]

Verified - not a filling problem.

Temp 98+ - stop & go traffic on the "freeway" - tank about 1/2 full - bars just above half - and a serious bout of gas fumes. Got home & parked the bike for 2 hours, got on the run an errand, and had fumes again before I got home.

Lots of you live in HOT areas - have you experienced this too??

 

[NancysToy]

I don't live in a hot area, but we have experienced it a great deal. Worst after a fill (not overfill) then ridden or parked in the sun, or in hotter weather at a partial tank. BRP said it was "overfilled." I said "No way!" They then said it was "normal." In other words, they have no clue. I'm sure the EPA doesn't consider the emissions "normal"...or allowable. I have inspected the hoses and gas filter carefully, and they are tight and in good shape. The evap cannister shows no sign of liquid gasoline. I have two theories. First, the breather hose on the canister is a short U-shaped tube at the top. I think this is the source of the odor. Second, we have foglights, which reduce the amount of air flowing beneath the bodywork. I think this accentuates the problem when fumes gather. I intend to run an extension hose off the U-shaped vent, and vent it beneath the Spyder. We'll see if that makes a difference. I would not replace the U-hose entirely, because a straight hose with a curve could eventually bend and kink.

 

[Dragonrider]

Makes sense - how about installing a filter on that line? Like a water trap? Anyone else with the problem/concern?

 

[Tom in NM]

I had it . . . .

Makes sense - how about installing a filter on that line? Like a water trap? Anyone else with the problem/concern?

. . . . . but the fumes have stopped now. I am not sure why. The only thing that happened at the same time was that instead of the usual average fill-up of 3.5 gallons when the light came on - it now takes 4.5 to 5 gallons and my gas gauge bars now all go dark.

I know that does not make sense, but that is what happened, at just under 3,000 miles - I am at 4,500 now.

Even so, I am going to check the hose and make sure it is long enough and correctly routed.

People without this problem seem to think it is a smell of gas, but it is overpowering. A couple of weeks ago I was filling up the Spyder and the gas pump malfunctioned and did not turn off. Gas went everywhere. All down the left hand side of the Spyder - all over my legs and in my boots. As I pushed the Spyder out of the pool of gas and was taking off my boots to get the gas out of them, I was thinking; "even this is not anywhere near as bad as the gas fume problem I had."

Some people have also speculated that the fume issue gets focused on the rider if they are wearing a full face helmet and a large windshield. I think there may be something to that.

At any rate, stop and go traffic, 115 degrees, clear sky and New Mexico sun, full gas tank - no fumes now.

Tom

 

[Mo Lee]

My worry is that I've reached that point in life that I no longer seem to be able to smell the the things that I've smelled all my life like skunks, methane, and gasoline among others. I could be standing in a pool of gas and not know it till I saw the flames.

 

[NancysToy]

Makes sense - how about installing a filter on that line? Like a water trap? Anyone else with the problem/concern?

I would not recommend this. Could impede airflow. It won't stop the fumes anyway, unless it was a charcoal filter...that would quickly become saturated and useless.

. . . . . but the fumes have stopped now. I am not sure why. The only thing that happened at the same time was that instead of the usual average fill-up of 3.5 gallons when the light came on - it now takes 4.5 to 5 gallons and my gas gauge bars now all go dark.

This sounds a bit like you had a stuck purge valve for a while, and now it is working to vent the tank properly. Whatever the reason, enjoy the Ryde!

 

[Dragonrider]

This has to have something to do with vapor pressure in the tank. If that's the case, routing out (away from the exhaust) would help the smell, but not the problem.

I like the purge valve idea too - thanx Tom. I'll look up the location in the shop manual & specifically check that out.

Other ideas??

 

[aka1004]

i had same problem and my dealer did alot of things to eliminate it.
i still had little bit of fume here and there so this is what i did.
i ran a extension from escape hose of evap canister(which is very short and right underneath you) to rear of the bike so whenever evap canister releases it i don't get it in my face my it is directed to rear.

one thing that is different now is end tip of the hose is bent up to keep the hose from syphoning fume/gas out of canister.

fume got worse as it got hotter and my tank was emptier, indicating gas expanding in tank. more than evap canister can handle. i know purge valve was supposed to redirect it but looks likes that can not handle the amount of fume neither.

 

[Dragonrider]

Thanks - I removed the canister from my LT (for other reasons), and perhaps it would work better on the Spyder - might try that too.

 

[jimmykjimmy]

Gas Fumes/ Hot Garage Arizona

Just going back home and filled up with gas (not to the top, top bar was not black). Temp outside was about 100. Drove home about 7 miles and backed spyder into the garage using reverse (in other words engine was on while in the garage) Garage temp was about 105. Shut down spyder and closed garage door.
I then went out to get something in the garage and did notice a stronger gasoline order. But smelled around the spyder and didn't get the impression that the oder was overbearing from the spyder.
I'm now beginning to think that when I first brought the spyder into that hot garage and closed the door it sealed in the exhaust fumes and maybe some fumes from the evaporator.
I kept the garage door closed and went out about an hour later through the garage and when I came back the odor was negligible.
Just wondering if when it's so hot that you trap all of the odors in the garage until they have had a chance to dissipate. Anyway just a thought