[Corsa B 1993-2000] exhaust smells strongly of fuel, advice carbon canister?

[ryanh92]

Hi, I have corsa b which was a 1.6 16v and is now a c20xe. I have a strong smelling fumes from the exhaust I have checked for leaks changed all the sensors for new ones when I reconditioned the engine and did the conversion. There all Bosch not the cheap stuff from eBay, but still the smells there. It was the same with the 1.6 fitted so I cannt seem to find out what it can be. can the carbon canister cuase this? The fuel tank vent valve was clogged up with black granules which im guessing there from that canister. Is the canister faulty which is causing this or what else can it be?

[Taurus]

I doubt the tank vent would cause this since the theory is that fumes stored in the carbon canister are cycled through the engine when it is ready to do so. So any fumes ought to be burnt off. And the amount of petrol in the fumes is tiny compared to the fuel being injected into the cylinders. If you want to check just disconnect the line from the vent into the throttle body - that way you know nothing from the canister is going through the engine.

It's more likely a fuelling issue, but I'd get the exhaust gases analysed before jumping to conclusions. Or take a look at the plugs, see if they are sooty, indicating over-fuelling.

I assume you're only checking the fumes when the engine is at full operating temperature?

[ryanh92]

Yes when its warmed up after a drive plugs look moral swapped fuel pump out for a known working one. Injectors were reconditioned tested and cleaned. Fuel reg is new, o2 sensor new and both Bosch from a good supplier. Coilpack new also the leads but I can't think of anything else it could be after xhngung everything for new decent parts I shall try the pipe yoy said about and see what happens if not what else would yoy say it can be?

[Danny]

Coolant temp sensor?

[ryanh92]

migHt be I did change that tho for a new one from Vauxhalll world parts

[ryanh92]

I also had to do some repairs to the loom as the two wires were broken when I found out I changed it and re done the wiring but as far as I can tell the rest of the wires are all ok not corroded etc

[Taurus]

Which two wires were broken? If the ECU isn't getting the right information then fuelling could be off. The thing is that saying it smells of fuel is a bit subjective, all exhaust gases smell of fuel to some degree, the question is - is it excessive? If the plugs look OK and it is running well then it might just be your perception of the smell rather than a problem. Which is why the only objective measurement is to get the exhaust gases checked. Any garage will do it for you for not very much. Or someone near you may have an analyzer kit.

[ryanh92]

Yes the smell makes your eyes water you cannot open your window either as its strong. The plugs are a whitey grey colour saying to me from what I've read it's lean its not a petrol smell like when you fill up just strong fumes of some kind so it may be lean not rich its running. There's no excessive fuel in the exhuast pipe or massive fuel consumption I get about 35/40 to the gallon from the xe which is normal I guess

[Vegas]

Is this running a cat? Were you using same exhaust system for the previous engine?

[ryanh92]

No brand new exhaust system Nd the smell was the same with the cat and without but the current one is a brand new cat but still the same

[Vegas]

Plugged in fuel tank vent valve and it's hoses?

[ryanh92]

Yes both plugged in, think the pipes are the correct way on the fuel tank vent valve

[ryanh92]

There pressure in fuel rail aswell when un doing the filler cap yoy can hear the air release and I have bled the rail aswell and it comes out nicely

[Vegas]

Well other than checking hoses you said you THINK are correct, I'm out of ideas

[ryanh92]

Same as, have any ideas what way they go? Just so I am sure?