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A/C smells like gas?

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Old Jun 27, 2016
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A/C smells like gas?

got a '02 civic and recently i've noticed that when i have the a/c on i can smell gas. it only happens when the a/c is on. i can have the a/c off and fan at full and no gas smell.

so since the air in both instances is coming from the engine compartment, i do not know why it smells like gas *only* with a/c. It's not a musty smell or an oil smell but definately gas.

anyone able to give some insight as to why?
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Old Jun 27, 2016
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Re: A/C smells like gas?

Do you smell gas outside the car too with the A/C on? You may a fuel leak in the engine compartment. Leaking O-rings on the fuel injectors? When A/C is on, the computer adjusts and increases fuel to engine.


It's definitely fuel and not PAG oil or refrigerant smells which would lead to a leaking evaporator or heater core etc.?


Has the cabin filter been changed lately?
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Old Jun 27, 2016
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Re: A/C smells like gas?

there's no smell of gas around the car. for sh*ts and giggles, i left the car inside the garage for 2 days and no gas smell.

I would think if it's leaking o-rings or injector, i'd still get the smell of gas without the a/c on no as it's drawing air from the same area.

it's gas. had a few ppl come in the car for their opinion as well.
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Old Jun 27, 2016
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Re: A/C smells like gas?

Define "gas".
Raw fuel?
Raw exhaust?


Try switching recirculate back and forth between fresh air and recirc air, see if that is how gas smell gets in.
AC operation by itself causing gas smell (raw fuel) just isn't making sense in my head yet, no obvious connection.

If you find the root cause and explain, it might make more sense though.
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Old Jun 28, 2016
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Re: A/C smells like gas?

Originally Posted by ezone
Define "gas".
Raw fuel?
Raw exhaust?
Shotgun rider???
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Old Jun 28, 2016
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Re: A/C smells like gas?

Originally Posted by ezone
Define "gas".
Raw fuel?
Raw exhaust?


Try switching recirculate back and forth between fresh air and recirc air, see if that is how gas smell gets in.
AC operation by itself causing gas smell (raw fuel) just isn't making sense in my head yet, no obvious connection.

If you find the root cause and explain, it might make more sense though.

yes, very weird indeed and i can't make heads or tails out of it.

drove home last night with a/c and recirc on and smelled gas.

drove to work this morning with no a/c and just the blower on and no gas.

it's weird that i smell gas with recirc on as the air is now being pulled from inside the car. also weird that when a/c is off with just blower on that i do not smell gas.

it's definately gas and not exhaust, it's that strong gas smell and not the exhaust smell.

does anyone know where the air is being pulled into the cabin of the car from the engine compartment?
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