Questions and Answers

Nissan Pathfinder Gas Smell

Q. 1994 Nissan Pathfinder, automatic transmission, 118,000 miles.

On cold mornings when I start my Pathfinder I smell a potent gas smell in the cab.... This problem seems to only exist on cold mornings and will not repeat itself later in the day.

A. Aside from the possibility of a fuel leak, the only other thing that comes to mind is the Evaporative Emission System. This is used to keep fuel from evaporating out into the atmosphere. There is a charcoal canister that collects up the fumes from the fuel tank and holds it. When the engine starts, the collected fumes are drawn into the engine to be burnt.

There is a fuel check valve located next to the gas tank that could be bad and allowing the fumes to escape through the canister. The purge valve located on top of the canister can be bad as well. The Chilton's manuals have the procedure you use to test both of the valves.

There is a canister filter that should be changed on a regular basis. If you pop the canister out and turn it upside down, you will see it. It's a round piece of fiberglass that fits inside the bottom. I grab the old one with a pair of pliers and pull it out. Then I just slip the new one in place.

Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA