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08-18-2013, 08:18 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 193
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Faint odor of avgas in RV-9
for the second time in a couple of weeks, I experienced a faint but noticeable odor of avgas in the aircraft. in both instances, it lasted maybe 30 seconds, and wasn't real strong. nevertheless, even without the wife's excited comments, it was disconcerting. after the first one, I looked the airplane over both inside the cockpit and outside, but found no indication of a leak anywhere. then it recurred again today. both times, I BELIEVE the odor occurred at or immediately after an adjustment to the mixture control, tho I cannot fathom why that would be the case. anyone with similar experience or suspicions? don olandese
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08-18-2013, 08:25 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,151
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I had similar. Eventually traced it to a fitting at the back of gascolator. The smell was more pronounced with aux fuel pump running before engine start. Tightened the fitting no more smell of gas in the cockpit. Yours might be different but I suggest checking in/out sides of the gascolator. I never liked the thingy. Some day I will get rid of it.

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08-18-2013, 08:30 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,219
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Check all of your fittings, look for blue stains.
Also, check the vent lines and their fittings. They are another source for fuel smell.
Finally, check around the shaft of your fuel selector. Mine had a minor weep once upon a time that was noticeable by the in-flight smell.
__________________
Kyle Boatright
Marietta, GA
2001 RV-6 N46KB
2019(?) RV-10
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08-18-2013, 08:50 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 193
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thanks guys
have done most of that but will do it again more thoroughly. you have given me some ideas to focus on. these kind of minor and transitory things are the most frustrating to deal with, but then a possible fuel leak is not one of those things we should blithely ignore....
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08-18-2013, 09:10 PM
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VAF moderator
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In Walter Mitty's dreams
Posts: 947
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leaker....
Hello, here are a couple places to check. I've found leaks in the following places - fuel selector O-rings (been rebuilding them quite a lot lately) - small defect on the firewall fitting that would only show up in a blue moon - fuel sensor gaskets in the wings... usually quite a lot of blue stain there - weeping external rivets on the fuel tanks, a temp fix is wicking locktite on the rivet head with a slight suction on the tank until you can fix it properly. Best of luck!!
Brian
__________________
Brian Wallis
(Exempt AND VAF dues paid 02 FEB 16)
Callsign: VOODOO sold RV3 to pay for ratings  !!!
AP/IA COM/Multi/IFR/350 type
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08-18-2013, 10:32 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: KRTS
Posts: 1,798
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Someone posted on here a while back to put white paper towel or tissue around all the fittings, go fly for a bit (try and replicate what gave you the smell) then see if any of the white tissues are stained blue.
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Next?, TBD
IAR-823, SOLD
RV-8, SOLD
RV-7, SOLD
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08-19-2013, 06:14 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Watkinsville, GA
Posts: 626
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Mine was a minor weep on a wing root fuel filter. Does not have to be in the cockpit.
__________________
Marshall Jacobson
"Miss Sue"
RV-8 80749 slow build taildragger
7.5 year build first flight Dec 2005
SOLD at 540 hours and 10 years of FUN
N68AK
Watkinsville, Georgia
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08-19-2013, 08:24 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 626
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Have you checked the fuel vent line fittings? Early on, I had that faint 100LL odor and finally found that the vertically oriented nut on the AN833-4D elbow fitting that passes through the right side F-902 bulkhead had a minor leak. I felt some "greasy" residue on the bottom of the elbow and it was blue. I tightened the nut a bit more and that took care of it.
I had a few gallons of fuel in each of the tanks for testing the fuel system, first engine start, etc. but the leak did not reveal itself with odor at that time. With much more fuel in the tanks, the fuel vent lines will take on fuel. Not sure how, maybe vapor condensation overnight, or splashing during flight, or both. Sometimes it will spew out of a vent just sitting there after a few days of not flying.
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08-19-2013, 08:26 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 502
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Fuel Level Sender
Had the same symptom. Faint smell of avgas when I got in the plane. Removed the wing root fairings and discovered it was the fuel level sender and another tiny weeping leak around the bottom of the tank cover found using the white tissue trick.
Drained the tank, removed and resealed the fuel level sender and a applied a healthy fillet of pro seal to the perimeter of the tank cover.
No more leaks - confirmed with the tissue trick.
__________________
Carl Raichle
Lutz, FL
RV-9A N194CR
RV-14A Under construction
Based at KZPH
AA4SR
Last edited by carlrai : 08-19-2013 at 08:28 AM.
Reason: oops
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08-19-2013, 08:39 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mahomet, Illinois
Posts: 2,195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carlrai
Had the same symptom. Faint smell of avgas when I got in the plane. Removed the wing root fairings and discovered it was the fuel level sender.
Drained the tank ....resealed the fuel level sender and a applied ... fillet of pro seal to the perimeter of the tank cover.
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Yep ...this was my experience exactly. when I loosened the wing root fairings from the bottom side, I could see some blue stains around a few of the screws in the sender cover. No trace of blue stain on the intersection fairing or exterior surface. Hard to imagine how clear the odor was in the cabin for such a tiny leak. Leak fixed .... no more odors. 
__________________
Terry Ruprecht
RV-9A Tip-up; IO-320 D2A
S. James cowl/plenum
(Dues paid thru Nov '18)
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