Gasoline Smell

>In my '89 YJ I occaisonally get a brief gasoline smell that
>subsides in a matter of minutes. I checked out the engine
>compartment but there is no smell or obvious leak there. It
>seems to be coming from around the gas tank, but nothing
>obvious there either. I am wondering about the top of the
>tank. There are some hoses and fittings on top, might my
>problem be there? I would really hate to drop the tank if I
>didn't have too. Thanks.
     
That happened in our car and it turned out to be the vapor
return canister (that black thing that is the size of a
coffee can under the hood).  It had a small crack in it that
was not obvious until we looked for it.  We replaced it and
the smell went away.

---

Had the same problem on my 89 YJ. Checked out under a
plastic cover on the bottom behind the passanger side rear
wheel.  Up inside the void behind the rear wheel, were two
fuel vapor  lines that went into a "T" fitting,
then into a rubber connector (Part # 5300-4047) which
connected to a vent valve (Part # J536-0058). Turned out the
connector was broken. Replaced both parts and no more gas
smell,or gas driping on the exhaust pipe.

- Chuck