Fumes in salon.1

[denpooch]

I was just reading a recent post about changing the 'fuel fill lines' on a vessel and I would like to get your thoughts on an issue which I have not yet resolved.
A couple of months ago I posted about complaints from the Admiral regarding 'engine compartment' or 'fuel smell' in the salon. I got some very good feedback from the crew on this forum however, after doing everything that I can think of doing; the problem has not been resolved.
While winterizing the engines with my mechanic he noticed a slight 'wiff' of gasoline smell. We have been hunting down this issue since August and determined that this smell was gas vapors exhausting from the 'gas fill' cover vent.
We had a thought that perhaps there is a 'loose' connection or some area between the interface of the gas fill neck and the fill hose. Perhaps something is going on with the gas fill itself and this might be the cause of fumes escaping into the transom and working their way forward into the salon. On my Mariner the access to this from the 'inside' of the transom is impossible.
I have never changed a fuel fill neck and don't know if I would need that kind of access, but would do anything to try to alleviate the issue fror next season. Does our idea of some malfunction in this area even make sense?
All thoughts about this are appreciated.

[bud37]

I don't know for sure about your year but the earlier models had inspection ports in the cockpit side coamings.....you could see the tank fill hose from there.

You are going to have to take some things apart and have a good look down there....top of fuel tank, fuel gauge fittings, fuel vent fittings and the fill hose fittings.....look for loose and evidence of leakage. Also the hoses the lead to the engines.....on the port side that fuel line routing is right where people step getting in and out of the engine area and is easily loosened without noticing right where it goes into the filter.....it happened to ours.

[Midnightsun]

I had a similar gas smell issue on a previous 1997 boat. Issue was a worn out fill hose. Seems the ethanol in the newer fuel eats the older rubber as there is no other explanation that would make any sense. Hose had worn right through and every time we filled gas, a Little bit of it would leak out causing the smell. If the smell is worse after refueling, this is likely your issue.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST I had a similar gas smell issue on a previous 1997 boat. Issue was a worn out fill hose. Seems the ethanol in the newer fuel eats the older rubber as there is no other explanation that would make any sense. Hose had worn right through and every time we filled gas, a Little bit of it would leak out causing the smell. If the smell is worse after refueling, this is likely your issue.

Had a friend with a Silverton with that exact issue. When he got the old hoses off, he saw there were "dry rot" type cracks all down the top side of the hose all the way from ill port to the tank.

[denpooch]

Thanks everyone. Looks like Spring Project #1.

[RGrew176]

Don't forget to change the vent line hose too.

[Wsullivan71]

I had the same issue. I found an access plate to the fill hose for the aft auxiliary tank hidden behind the transom bumper. Hose was totally dry rotted.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST I had the same issue. I found an access plate to the fill hose for the aft auxiliary tank hidden behind the transom bumper. Hose was totally dry rotted.

Good find! Yea, that hose looks pretty nasty!