Strong smell of gasoline when starting engine

I have a 2016 4Runner that I bought used about 2 years ago. It had low mileage and literally still feels like it is brand new. The only thing I have found worrisome is that simply starting the engine to (say) move it in or out of the garage leaves a very strong smell of gasoline. There is absolutely no sign of any gasoline on the ground.

I apologize in advance for my complete lack of technical car knowledge, but I would like to hear theories about what could be causing this, and whether I should have it looked into.

Thanks,
Mitch

 

Obviously, check for fuel leaks, if that’s not the problem, then another possibility is that the evap system is inoperative. Maybe the charcoal canister has failed due to overfilling the gas tank.

 

Charcoal canister or evap system is my guess too, barring actual leaks

 

Agree with the above 2 posts... Sound like an Evap system issue. Wether a charcole canisted, purge valve or simply the gas cap isnt on all the way/ tight. Really suprised that there is not a check engine light on in this situation. Most of the time, if there is an Evp System issue, the CEL will come on pretty quick.

But also, its that time of year when the weather is changing so the car sitting outside during the day gets warm, and then sits in your garage all night cooling off, the gas tank is sweeling and then contracting a bit... The fumes have to go somewhere.

 

Thanks for replying. I will have to take it in I guess.
Is this likely to be an expensive fix?
Is it something I should have the dealer do or could I take it to a local (trusted) garage?

 

I think what you are referring to is the hydrocarbons out the tailpipe during cold start when the catalyst is not warmed up.

Do you also observe this smell when the engine and catalyst is warm, let’s say when you return from a trip and pull into the garage?

 

Yeah, lol …Differentiating the smell of exhaust and the smell of raw gasoline would be an important detail.

The smell of unburned gasoline is a problem. The smell of exhaust may be nothing at all if it clears after the catalytic warms up.

When did toyota start with the air injection pump on the 4runner? My 21 has it, and I can hardly smell anything when I start it stone cold temps. I would imagine pre-air pump models would smell a bit more until warmed up.

 

I would definitely say this smells like raw gasoline. And I only have noticed it when starting cold,
or at least as cold as it gets here in Florida.

 

my parents RAV4 had repeated evap canister issues. i think it cost them over $1,000 to replace each time.

they never top off their gas tank either.

 

Normal IMO. If I just start the truck to move it out of the garage and then turn the engine off very shortly after, there's a strong smell of unburned gas. The solution is... to not do that.

If you return from an actual drive and smell it then there's an issue. If no smell, it's fine.

 

Unburned gas?…do you mean the smell coming from the exhaust?

Because, honestly, I dont think it’s normal if it’s raw gas smell.

 

I guess it's a cross between unburned gas and exhaust, really. It's almost like the ECU specs out a richer setting at startup and if you shut the engine down you smell that. It's not pure gas, but it's not just exhaust either. Mine is strong and noticeable but I've never considered it a problem. Worse in cold weather.

 

i've never smelled raw gas during high-rev starts (to heat the cats). strong odors, yes, but not raw gasoline.

 

I would agree those exhaust smells are probably normal. But if it smells like it smells when you spill gas refueling a lawnmower (for example), then that’s a problem. You may have, not only a fire hazard, but it wouldnt pass emissions either.

edit: to the OP, to be clear, suppose you pour out a tablespoon of gasoline on your garage floor. If it smells like that, then you have an evap system problem or a leak.

Exhaust from a rich air-fuel mixture when cold-idling is a different smell, probably not a problem.

 

Agreed, that's what I was trying to articulate albeit unsuccessfully I guess.

 

Language is a funny (and extremely interesting) thing. Sometimes we think we are understood or think we understand. But when we suspect otherwise, us humans can get pretty good at figuring out how to clarify what we intended to say

I dont think it was a failure for us to articulate our thoughts…. It was just what I would call…an “iterative communication exchange”. Ooooo, I should write that one down.

Nobody take that buzzword!!! I made it, it’s mine!!!!

 

I.C.E.?