Gas fumes in garage.

[The NY Dad]

We have our 185 sport stored in a garage, there is nothing else with gas in it, in the garage. I went in there the other day and there was a faint smell of gas. The boat is a carbureted 4.3l. At first I thought it was due to gas in the float bowl of the carb, but then I got thinking about it and I've had a lot of carbureted cars, toys, and lawn equipment in a lot of garages and never smelled gas. So my questions are, is this normal for this boat, and if not what is causing it and how can I eliminate it? I have things in the garage that I don't want smelling like gas and moving them somewhere else is not feasible, and neither is putting them in sealed containers or wrapping them in plastic.

 

[blaster]

It's probably coming from the fuel vent.

 

[The NY Dad]

Is it safe to plug it while it is in the garage, as long as i put a sign in the boat to unplug it before it is started

 

[Bt Doctur]

Not really, find the source or risk blowing the garage up ,up and away

 

[blaster]

Maybe put charcoal in a mesh bag over the fill/vent rather than block it. Blowing up the garage seems a bit alarmist. Sure it's possible but it would take a lot of vapor and an open flame.

 

[The NY Dad]

I'll give the charcoal idea a try, theirs a pet store with aquarium supplies close by.

 

[dieselsmoke]

I also have a 185 4.3 carb in my garage and I also have a faint smell of gas. I assumed it was just a fact of having a boat in the garage. I leave the engine cover open with a battery tender on and figured that was the reason. I do have windows open so the air can exchange but this thread has me curious. The smell is minimal and I don't think it's dangerous but I'm wondering if there is a simple solution

 

[Dan_B]

You can install an exhaust fan in your garage or you can drain the fuel out of the boat.

 

[BillK2632]

Fuel systems in a boat are vented unlike a car which is closed - I would think that is why are are smelling gas in a closed up garage. Even though you can smell it, I doubt there is enough fume build up going on to cause a problem. I think it is just the nature of the beast. Is there a window that you could crack?

 

[scoflaw]

tape up the vent

 

[dutchman]

For the last 8 years, I have stored my boats in our attached garage and never get any fuel smell. I guess you could tape up the vent to see if the smell goes away, but I doubt it's the tank vent. I would look under the hood a little closer, even while the engine is running.
My buddy mentioned he had fuel odor sometimes on his boat. I found the carb had a tiny leak dripping on the manifold. He had been running like that for the past year and lucky that's all that happened.

 

[Loyd Dinneen]

One thing to consider is the type of hot water heater you have in your garage. If it is a natural or propane gas one then your in danger of blowing up your garage, it is why you don't store gas in a garage.