NFT: Snowblower gas fumes - a leak?

...you're wondering why you smell gas? I'd be more interested if it didn't!

You just smelling fumes or do you visibly see a leak?

If you prime the engine a little too aggressively, a small leak is normal. Not talking about a visible trail of gasoline, but you'd see a few drops and definitely smell it.

In comment 13356202 jcn56 said:

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You just smelling fumes or do you visibly see a leak? If you prime the engine a little too aggressively, a small leak is normal. Not talking about a visible trail of gasoline, but you'd see a few drops and definitely smell it.

just smelling fumes. No visible leak.

at least a little.

If I've just run the snow blower or ride on, or power washer, you can bet it's gonna smell like gas even more

In comment 13356209 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:

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In comment 13356202 jcn56 said: Quote: You just smelling fumes or do you visibly see a leak? If you prime the engine a little too aggressively, a small leak is normal. Not talking about a visible trail of gasoline, but you'd see a few drops and definitely smell it. just smelling fumes. No visible leak.

Just fumes, then you're probably OK. You should even see a few drips if you've gone too far with the priming (I'd say more than 2-3 pumps). It's a self-defense mechanism of the engine, if it didn't have an outlet to drip when over primed you'd flood the carb.

In comment 13356221 jcn56 said:

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In comment 13356209 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said: Quote: In comment 13356202 jcn56 said: Quote: You just smelling fumes or do you visibly see a leak? If you prime the engine a little too aggressively, a small leak is normal. Not talking about a visible trail of gasoline, but you'd see a few drops and definitely smell it. just smelling fumes. No visible leak. Just fumes, then you're probably OK. You should even see a few drips if you've gone too far with the priming (I'd say more than 2-3 pumps). It's a self-defense mechanism of the engine, if it didn't have an outlet to drip when over primed you'd flood the carb.

Ah, I just thought of something, the choke is probably still open + the priming...

in a dry spot and see if you see liquid on the ground in that area.

look from the primer bulb down towards the carb, you should see faint gas lines running down the side of the engine (if you prime enough you'll see a small pool maybe a couple of inches on the floor). So little drips out that it doesn't drip clean, it runs down the side of the engine (at least in my case, a 22" Ariens).

the mixture of air to fuel will be off and you'll be burning excess gas and you will smell it. If the choke is all the way off after it's warmed up, then maybe the cable connected to the choke lever needs to be adjusted.
I snow blow all the time (including an hour this morning) and the only time I smell gas is when the choke is still open, even if only a little bit. That's what I'd look at.

and you wouldn't smell it afterward, would you? Not enough unburnt fuel to give you the smell after the thing is done.

you do realize your standing behind a exhaust pipe that the motor burns oil and gas. Also sometimes you spill gas on the motor if its not steaming for a long time no worries.

after you shut the motor down. If so, is it possible you spilled a bit outside
the gas cap and, not being the regular gasoline, too longer to evaporate with a longer lasting odor?

What mavric says is, clearly true, but it doesn't sound like the odor occurred on start-up when the choke would be opened, rather it began after shut down.

I would try the Weber grill test, if the temperature cooperate: get a spray bottle and fill it with water and enough dish soap to make it warm soapy, spray all around the gas line, underneath the tank, and the line to the carb, then run the engine to see if you have bubbling.

Yeah, yesterday was a bit of a beatch up here, the first 2" or so on the ground in the early hours were wet and heavy, then it got colder and drier snow--about 12" up here in NE Westchester Co. But that bottom layer was enough to coat the rotor blades and create the glomming effect where the rotors were stuffed with snow that not even my Wednesday night application of lots of PAM worked. Had to drench the rotors and bin with hot water to wash it down to metal and re-apply Pam twice, pain in the ass, not to mention I busted a shear bolt.

those wear out and gas will leak on the ground. I ended buying another one instead of getting the carb rebuilt on a 12 year old Toro.

Kept it outside and covered overnight and then moved it this morning to see the rainbow stains on the driveway. Still don't get it - it's only been used a couple of times in the last two years.

In comment 13357397 Bobby Humphrey's Earpad said:

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Kept it outside and covered overnight and then moved it this morning to see the rainbow stains on the driveway. Still don't get it - it's only been used a couple of times in the last two years.

Snowblowers tend to get knocked around though, and sometimes you can damage a fuel line or crack a carb without realizing it. Gaskets also dry out over time, could also be a culprit.

If you're up to a DIY repair, RepairClinic has a decent troubleshooter here with a link to buy parts if you need them.
https://www.repairclinic.com/RepairHelp/How-To-Fix-A-Snowblower/136-301--/Ariens-Snowblower-leaking-gas - ( New Window )