Home › Forums › Bass Cat Faq Archive › Gas leak
I have noticed the last few times that I have gone to my garage there is a strong smell of gas…I have checked all fittings, the gaskets around the sending units and etc..I have pumped the ball tight while watching for leaks in the fuel line and could find nothing….My gaage is enclosed but I have never smelled gas before on the other boats I have owned..I can raise the garage doors and turn my fan on and the smell leaves but if I close the doors the smell is back in a day or two…I have actually gotten right down close to the sending units, hose fittings, vent caps and fresh air intakes and dont really smell gas….Im lost, anyone have any suggestions as to other places to look??
Thanks
On my Jag, I have a Merc 225 EFI. I smelled gas one day in my garage too. What I found was that a gasket on the fuel pump on my 225 was leaking. It would only leak when the motor was tilted up (as if you were taking off the motor support). I would tilt up the motor, the gasket would leak, I would put the motor back down and the leak would stop. What would happen is the fuel would pool inside the cowl, slowly come out of the cowl around the steering connection to the motor, and then pool in the backspash area of the transom. This may be your problem too.
Any other suggetions? I am having the same issue and I do not see a pool of fuel anwhere, just the smell of gas in the Garage.
On my 01 Jag I to can sometimes smell gas , but I have figured out it was comming from the fuel caps . In warm weather the poly tanks expand and contract some , so I was getting fumes from my fuel caps, I have been in my garage on a warm day and have actualy heard the tanks expand and shortly after I could smell the gas . Hope this helps
My 99 P3 does the same thing. I havent seen any gas leaks either. It sure smells strong though. I dont remember it smelling like that with my Ranger. I hope this is normal. Maybe BCB has some thoughts.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
1999 Pantera III 1999 200 Opti 25P Tempest Minn Kota Maxxum 70 2 Pinpoint 7520s
I just cant figure it out…I have removed the cowling,1994 Merc 200 EFI, the motor almost looks new with no gas or oil leaks..Like I said in my previous post I have done all I know to do..I have to get up each morning and open the garage doors and turn the fan on…Never had this problem before..It is probably something real simple and someone out there will solve the problem…Until that happens it sure smells strong…
The fuel is most common as weather heats up. It is gassing of the tanks as the fuel permeates the tank, and spreads through your boat.
Your vehicle fuel tank is mounted outside your car, while your boat tank is in your boat. Like putting a gas can in your boat and leaving it. Yes it will vent and smell some.
The warmer weather causes expansion and that expansion causes fumes to spread through your garage out the fuel vents.
The system on a ’94 is a proven set up for decades since 1988 model year and is similar to all others still used.
I know this is not hte answer though it is factual.
There is no reason for any more fuel ventilation from any brand of boat to another in a stored position and giving that is the same confined area.
The systems are the same and only the tank volume would give any boat more fuel fentilation over another one in the same environment. That being space, temperature and conditions.
On boats that are over filled, we also see Plenty of fuel expansion issues this time of year from fuel tanks of boats stored outside. They can leak out the fuel vents, as they always have when it gets hot with temperatures rising during the day. That fuel expands and belches out the fuel vants if hte tanks are packed over to top or top out.
That is why the warning label is on newer boats stating to not “Pack” the fuel tanks!
Hope this helps some to answer your questions.
BCB
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats

