Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Strong Smell of Raw Gas After Ride

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 07-24-2015, 06:51 PM
ZenGlide's Avatar
ZenGlide
ZenGlide is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Shaconage
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default Strong Smell of Raw Gas After Ride

2012 FLHTCU with ~8k miles. Bike is stock other than decatted header, CVO OEM slip-ons and Xied.

The bike seems to be running fine. However, after the last 2 rides, I parked the bike and get a very strong smell of raw gas. The smell was so strong that I opened the garage door to vent the fumes. It definitely smells like a raw gas leak somewhere. I've done a visual inspection around tank and can't find any obvious signs of a leak. I checked about the tank/line coupling and don't see anything or smell anything on my hands after I feel around it. I even stuck my nose inside of each muffler to see if it was unburned fuel... it smelled like regular exhaust.

Has anyone ever experienced this or have any suggestions about how to start troubleshooting it?

Thanks
 
  #2  
Old 07-24-2015, 07:17 PM
ZenGlide's Avatar
ZenGlide
ZenGlide is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Shaconage
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

After posting this, I did some research and found this to be not that unusual after riding in hot weather. I know bikes just smell like gas sometime. The thing that concerned me the most was how strong it was, and how long it lingered. Hopefully, it's not a problem.
 
  #3  
Old 07-24-2015, 07:20 PM
RushKing14's Avatar
RushKing14
RushKing14 is offline
Tourer
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kansas
Posts: 485
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

It's probably just due to the heat of the gas tank over the motor, thus creating gas vapors being released by the gas cap.
 
  #4  
Old 07-24-2015, 07:21 PM
RG Pilot's Avatar
RG Pilot
RG Pilot is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,882
Received 273 Likes on 202 Posts
Default

You should not smell raw fuel when shutting down unless you just filled your tank before you parked it. It's leaking someplace. If it were me, I'd find it soon.
 
  #5  
Old 07-24-2015, 07:34 PM
stic2it's Avatar
stic2it
stic2it is offline
Road Captain
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: D.C suburbs
Posts: 671
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Very common for your quick release to leak a bit, did you have your tank off recently? Release it, inspect the o-ring and reinstall. Make sure it clicks in
 
  #6  
Old 07-25-2015, 08:20 AM
JeffG7777's Avatar
JeffG7777
JeffG7777 is offline
2nd Gear
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

+1 on topping off gas tank right before parking after a hot ride. I've done that and the overflow let some out on my garage floor. Needless to say, at first I thought Oh No...
 
  #7  
Old 07-25-2015, 08:24 AM
pdzani's Avatar
pdzani
pdzani is offline
Cruiser
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Colorado
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I agree with Rushking, mine does the same thing after a ride on a hot day, park the bike in the garage and the heat from the motor heats up the tank and it vents off. I have to open my garage door to clear out the gas smell.
 
  #8  
Old 07-25-2015, 08:50 AM
GriffinDenim13FLHX's Avatar
GriffinDenim13FLHX
GriffinDenim13FLHX is offline
Road Warrior
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Meridian, Idaho
Posts: 1,625
Received 119 Likes on 90 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by pdzani
I agree with Rushking, mine does the same thing after a ride on a hot day, park the bike in the garage and the heat from the motor heats up the tank and it vents off. I have to open my garage door to clear out the gas smell.
 
  #9  
Old 07-25-2015, 08:54 AM
Iceman24's Avatar
Iceman24
Iceman24 is offline
Seasoned HDF Member

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Eastern NE
Posts: 24,900
Received 2,220 Likes on 1,622 Posts
Default

Definitely double-check to ensure it's not an "actual" leak, but gonna bet it's the "post-ride" raw fuel reward smell.
 
  #10  
Old 07-25-2015, 09:25 AM
ZenGlide's Avatar
ZenGlide
ZenGlide is offline
Road Master
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Shaconage
Posts: 910
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've never had the tank off, but I'll be sure to continue looking for any signs of leakage. After my next ride, I'll check around where tank vent tube exits the bike. I may also slowly unscrew the gas cap to vent off any pressure to see if that makes a difference. I have a feeling it's just due to pressure and heat. My last 2 rides were on very hot days.

I once owned Kaw Nomad that had a whistling gas cap. That thing would whistle like a tea kettle for an hour after a ride on a hot day.

Thanks again for all the help.
 


Quick Reply: Strong Smell of Raw Gas After Ride



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:26 PM.