2007 GMC 1500 Fuel Smell

[TJMaine]

2007 GMC Sierra 1500 CC with 190k miles on her

I did search around the forums and didnt find anything really pertaining to this specific issue.
My first guess/instinct was fuel line ( but there is never any spots under the truck after being parked and sitting )

Over the last few days I have noticed a gas smell coming from the truck ( not super strong, but enough to alert me )

Seems to be more prevalent at the rear of the truck on the opposite side of the fuel tank. ( near bumper, figured the fumes were accumulating under the bumper or something )
No gas smell under the hood at all

I rolled around under the truck today wiped my hand on anything that could have fuel on it ( and some that couldnt have ) with no fuel smell on my hand.

I live in a colder climate and has been warm lately ( figured some vent or something from fuel tank or something )

I dont notice it any more or less when the tank is full or empty

 

No difference if it's been sitting or recently driven.

 

I checked the exhaust for a strong gas smell ( nothing )

Any ideas? Foggy? Educated or even SWAG ( Scientific Wild A$$ guess ) are appreciated.

[TJMaine]

Well it stopped for a day, then today my co worker noticed he smelled gas near my truck, nothing dripping ( entire underneath of truck is clean and dry ) but seems to be accumulating in the wheel well and under the rear bumper. my guess is the top of the fuel tank where the fuel pump is is leaking or is rusted out. Unless i end up with fuel on the ground I wont be doing anything with it this winter. Early spring I'll try and pull the bed off I guess and see whats what.

I also had a revelation as far as taking the tank out... disconnect all the hoses and shit, loosen straps, lower truck ( I have a family member who has a lift ) put a jack or jack stands under fuel tank, remove straps, raise truck on lift to lift it off fuel tank ( i dont have a jack tall enough to reach fuel tank on the lift ) and see whats going on under there... PITA

GM guys, is there an easy way to get to the top of the gas tank under the truck with a camera/ cell phone? Just curious if there is an easy access area or something.

[ifixedit]

Here's another link I found that goes into a bit more detail on code P0452 that may help and explain the fuel smell >>> http://www.obd-codes.com/p0452

[TJMaine]

UPDATE:
It got worse so I stopped in at my local trusted mechanic and had them do a diagnosis. Fuel supply from pump was rotted out. Had them just do it because I dont have the time changing jobs and because I need reliable transportation.

Should be fixed later today.

[Jsdirt]

Just FYI, I believe this newer generation of trucks has no external filter. Don't recall seeing one on mine ...

 

If it were mine, I'd just replace the affected section with F.I. hose, and double-clamp it to a salvageable section. MUCH cheaper and easier than scrapping the entire line.

[TJMaine]

Just FYI, I believe this newer generation of trucks has no external filter. Don't recall seeing one on mine ...

 

If it were mine, I'd just replace the affected section with F.I. hose, and double-clamp it to a salvageable section. MUCH cheaper and easier than scrapping the entire line.

I take this thing off road twice a month for a weekend from April-November. I dont want to be left 10 miles in the woods with a busted fuel line.... But at the same time i dont want to spend 800$ on a fuel line job. We'll see what I find, was way to damn cold last night to roll around under the truck ( 15 degrees ) and I had to dress up for work this morning. I'll have to look tonight

[TJMaine]

UPDATE UPDATE:

Soooooo, i walked by my truck the other day and my Hubble Telescope eyes managed to catch the top of my fuel tank between my cab and the bed of my truck ( Perfect view )

Looked down and that lock ring looks BRAND NEW, black... no rust... But i can see some wetness ontop of the fuel tank. In the next week or two I will be pulling the bed off to get a better view but if I had to venture a guess I can see some lines there that look weathered.... We shall see.

[Jsdirt]

If you run the hose inside the frame rail like the OEM, the danger of snagging it is pretty low.

 

Just make sure it's 30R9 rated. It's burst and working pressures far exceed what the pump can produce.

[TJMaine]

I guess my big question is, is it still safe to drive?

 

I also just went out ( dont make fun of me ) and opened my gas cap ( instant gas smell ) took off, checked gasket, put back on and clicked a bunch of atimes to make sure... i will test and verify. Check the dumb stuff first ( always my problem, jump to the big issues first )

[TJMaine]

If you run the hose inside the frame rail like the OEM, the danger of snagging it is pretty low.

 

Just make sure it's 30R9 rated. It's burst and working pressures far exceed what the pump can produce.

Roger Dodger... yeah the road is a dirt road, then a logging road, then a ATV trail, then a walking trail the last 200 ft or so LOL.

 

Ruts, rocks, sticks mud... GOOD TIMES!

[TJMaine]

Too F'in cold to tell if theres a fuel smell last night, today, tomorrow and thursday... F'in -5 without the wind chill this morning... FACK!

[newdude]

Salt where you are? Try and get a view of the top where the sending unit is mounted. Unfortunately we've seen a streak of rotted senders lately on 2007-2009 trucks.

[TJMaine]

Maine, we use all kinds of salt. I'll see what I can do tonight, hopefully I can do it without taking the bed off ( that would be a few weeks before I could do that )

You talking about the fuel level sending unit or the fuel pump?

http://www.gmpartscenter.net/auto-parts/2007/gmc/sierra-1500/sle-trim/5-3l-v8-gas-engine/fuel-system-cat/fuel-system-components-scat/?part_number=15808917

[Jsdirt]

Good deal.

[Jsdirt]

I hear that. Even way down here in MA we've been at 10° for the past 8 hours. Tomorrow or Thursday we'll be getting negative temps ...

 

Glad I just fabricated a waste oil burner for my barn. Out there fixing crash damage on our '89 S10 Blazer - wife slid off the road and cranked a guardrail last Saturday after the snow ...

 

Gotta love winter!

[TJMaine]

I hear that. Even way down here in MA we've been at 10° for the past 8 hours. Tomorrow or Thursday we'll be getting negative temps ...

 

Glad I just fabricated a waste oil burner for my barn. Out there fixing crash damage on our '89 S10 Blazer - wife slid off the road and cranked a guardrail last Saturday after the snow ...

 

Gotta love winter!

I have a backup K1 heater that we lit last night because it's so windy and cold... New siding and insulation on outside of house and windows and it still a biotch to heat. Takin the edge off with the heater where we need it... HATE COLD WEATHER! Time to move south... thinking something tropical.