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fuel smell
MY67BTL - March 29th, 2015 at 03:31 PM

hi everyone im new to the forum and need some help i have just bought my first 67 beetle and dont know much about them and it friggn smells of fuel every time i drive it coming from the floor smells strongest near the shifter i have checked tank undid bolts had a look underneath and seems dry


MY67BTL - March 29th, 2015 at 03:33 PM

also can anyone tellme of any vw mechanics up the central coast area woy woy gosford or erina areas cheers


MY67BTL - March 29th, 2015 at 03:44 PM

hi everyone can anybody help me im new to the forum and just bought my first 67 beetle my issue is everytime i take it for a drive it reeks of fuel coming from the floor i think strongest near the shifter i have pulled tank out and checked underneath seems dry also does anyone know of a good vw mechanic up the central coast area woywoy gosford area cheers


psimitar - March 29th, 2015 at 04:37 PM

Sounds like the solid pipe in the floorpan tunnel has sprung a leak. If that is the case then the easiest material to use to pull a new solid line thru is Kunifer. It meets Oz standards and is far easier to work with than the steel stuff and is freely available on fleabay UK if you have no luck finding steel bundy or kunifer in Oz :)


ragged - March 30th, 2015 at 12:24 PM

Check you fuel cap. Any fumes under the bonnet will find there way into the the cabin. Dave


kylandpl - April 7th, 2015 at 11:30 PM

As mentioned, check fuel cap, and also breather pipe attached to fuel neck, fuel sender gasket in middle of tank, as all of these will put fumes into cabin.

If it's strongest near the floor, pull your shifter and see if you can see fuel in the tunnel with a torch...maybe have leaking fuel line?

As for the Central Coast, there is Leong at West Gosford (Nells Rd), and a guy near the Woodport Inn at Erina who works on older cars (sorry don't know the name).


Carl and Emily - April 8th, 2015 at 08:09 AM

Our 62 has the same issue.

For us it is the fuel cap.

Al at Das Resto was going to order a bunch in to have in stock,.. we just haven't been past to see if has them in yet.


Bizarre - April 8th, 2015 at 08:15 AM

There will be a rubber hose that joins the steel pipe.
This is at both ends of the car. The rubber can crack and run down the pipe.
Also take the gearbox coupler cover off and have a look there. That cover lives on the tunnel under rear seat.

Use your nose and really get in there and sniff.

Have a read on http://www.vw-resource.com 

Lots of info there


psimitar - April 8th, 2015 at 02:27 PM

Yea, I had assumed the floorpan grommets and fuel hose were all in good order as these would be the first culprits to address.

Make sure the above things are in order including the cork sealing ring of the filler cap. You can buy a sheet of 5mm cork on fleabay for a fiver to make your own sealing ring :)

If still smelling/leaking then report back :)


ACT65Deluxe - May 2nd, 2015 at 09:07 AM

Check to see if the smell is coming through the heater vents as well. If it is then check the engine bay for fuel leaks. I had a fuel smell coming through the floor heater vents in my 1965 and decided to pull over for an inspection. Found out my fuel pump (the press fitted outlet pipe) had virbrated lose after 50 years of running and it was sprurting fuel into the engine bay.

I was very lucky not to have experience a Beetle Fry Up (engine bay fire).

Best of luck locating and fixing the fuel issue.


MY67BTL - January 17th, 2016 at 08:55 PM

hi guys thanx for all of your comments got the fuel issue sorted now i hoping some one can help me with where to get a golde windback sunroof fitted as they were an option when brought to australia cheers everyone


adlbeetle66 - January 18th, 2016 at 08:02 AM

All the best with finding that, they dont come up very often and when they do they sell for a fortune . :sniffle: