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Holy Gas Fumes

Mark G

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Good news is my boat fits in the garage. Bad news no ventilation other then the mini-split opening, and the gas fumes are rough. No foundation vents like California. Is it best to go with the floor level vents or what would you guys recommend. Regular size garage, single story stucco home. Side note, boat checks out and there's no leaks...
 

Mark G

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Low level vents sound logical.
Looking for a decent model or brand. The cheaper ones look like they're installed when the home is constructed.
 
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Taboma

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Looking for a decent or brand. The cheaper ones look like they're installed when the home is constructed.
Won't lower vents tend to be detrimental to any cooling provided by a mini-split, with cool air descending ? Often wondered how they address garage ventilation in Havasu when garages are air conditioned, have shutters on them ??
 

Mark G

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Won't lower vents tend to be detrimental to any cooling provided by a mini-split, with cool air descending ? Often wondered how they address garage ventilation in Havasu when garages are air conditioned, have shutters on them ??
Yes, I'm a little confused on that issue. I don't run the Air too much in the heat. Just put it out there to get some opinions and ideas. The fumes are pretty heavy and are my main concern.
 

tobya666

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I’d probably try the fan with a charcoal filter first, seems like a simple fix that could help a lot with the fumes.
 

LHC Kirby

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Good news is my boat fits in the garage. and the gas fumes are rough. Side note, boat checks out and there's no leaks...
There is no reason for gas fumes if there is no leaks. Fumes are coming from somewhere - find that source. Ventilation and fumes will eventually get to an ideal % that is ignitable.
 

Mark G

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Dude, you have a fuel leak in your boat if you are getting fumes that bad....
When we're there, opening and closing doors it pretty much fades. It's the 2 or 3 weeks when we're not there it builds up. Garage is insulted, dry walled (including ceiling). When the boats in the open, no problems..2 seperate inspections when serviced.
 

Taboma

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Yes, I'm a little confused on that issue. I don't run the Air too much in the heat. Just put it out there to get some opinions and ideas. The fumes are pretty heavy and are my main concern.
I'd be more concerned about why the heavy fumes and their source. My CA garage was built new in 2010, and because I have no natural or propane gas devices, garage vents weren't required, or installed. My garage isn't large by Havasu standards, but an oversized three car, with three full time cars, and an fairly large attached shop.
I've never detected any fumes that weren't from some solvent I've used and since there's no ignition source, if I were to smell fumes, I'd open a window and the man door or the rollups to quickly vent.

If no leak is it just your boat tanks venting from topped off tanks ??
 

Mark G

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I'd be more concerned about why the heavy fumes and their source. My CA garage was built new in 2010, and because I have no natural or propane gas devices, garage vents weren't required, or installed. My garage isn't large by Havasu standards, but an oversized three car, with three full time cars, and an fairly large attached shop.
I've never detected any fumes that weren't from some solvent I've used and since there's no ignition source, if I were to smell fumes, I'd open a window and the man door or the rollups to quickly vent.

If no leak is it just your boat tanks venting from topped off tanks ??
Pretty sure it's the venting. Just trying to balance the mini split, summer heat and ventilation...
 

Mark G

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There is no boat i have ever worked on, built, or owned that vented fuel so bad you needed to tape the vents, From Flat bottoms to twin engine inboards.....

This sounds to me like a leaking tank, leaking hose, or something going on....
We've double checked. Maybe missing something. Pretty much clears up when out in the open..
 

RiverDave

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Fix any gas leaks and then install a vapor trapper and done..

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Javajoe

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Better sleep outside when the boat is inside. Turn off all the pilot lights 🫣
 

Mandelon

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Is there a gas fired water heater in there? You know, with a flame?
 

lbhsbz

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Pump the gas out and pour it in your truck....put fresh gas in the boat next time.

And...if you can smell gas fumes enough to make a post about it...don't touch the fucking light switch or the garage door opener button
 

Racey

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We've double checked. Maybe missing something. Pretty much clears up when out in the open.

The bulk of the boats i deal with live in sealed, unventilated storage units behind my shop. I have never once opened a door to gas fumes.
 

gqchris

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My Crownline makes my garage smell also. No fuel leaks. Have had it checked two times. I do have vents in the garage, low and high. I cant find a source of the fumes.
 

spectras only

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I have a Go-Kart, a vintage Formula car, two vintage motorcycles with carburators with fuel in their tanks. Only time I had heavy smell of fuel when one of the petcock of one of the m/c started a leak, caused by dried corck in it. Replaced the cork and no more smell.
 

Joker

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Used to have the same issue with our Nordic filing up the garage with fumes. The hose fittings from the tank to the vent were loose
 

Rajobigguy

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Bottom line is , if you have heavy gas fumes in the garage then something isn’t right. Like others here I have/had lots of gas powered toys in my non vented garages and never had more than a very slight smell, not even noticeable unless you were trying to smell it.
 

schiadastan

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Good news is my boat fits in the garage. Bad news no ventilation other then the mini-split opening, and the gas fumes are rough. No foundation vents like California. Is it best to go with the floor level vents or what would you guys recommend. Regular size garage, single story stucco home. Side note, boat checks out and there's no leaks...
How old is the boat? How old are all the fuel lines? Are the stainless lines? The reason I asked is stainless lines do not have the plastic liner built into the hose . Then the hose age is out the fumes will Permatreat the rubber fuel line walls, and you will smell them if you have rubber fuel lines. If they are old, they will dry out and do the same thing. That’s why all the Coast Guard fuel lines now have a vapor barrier built into so the fumes do not Permatreat the rubber lines. It all depends on what type of fuel you run ethanol fuels will per mart faster than anything else, it will also dry out rubber fuel lines, which will create a leak after a while.
 

Mandelon

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You need a bilge vent fan for the garage! LOL
 

gqchris

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Used to have the same issue with our Nordic filing up the garage with fumes. The hose fittings from the tank to the vent were loose
Im gong to check this on mine. I put tape over vent and that didnt stop it
 

Mark G

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My Crownline makes my garage smell also. No fuel leaks. Have had it checked two times. I do have vents in the garage, low and high. I cant find a source

Bottom line is , if you have heavy gas fumes in the garage then something isn’t right. Like others here I have/had lots of gas powered toys in my non vented garages and never had more than a very slight smell, not even noticeable unless you were trying to smell it.

Im gong to check this on mine. I put tape over vent and that didnt stop it
Yeah, it's more then likely a vent issue. Zero smell of gas when out in the open. Two mechanics checked it out with no leaks found. The smell is definitely not that fresh gas smell. Have to put some vents in garage..
 

yz450mm

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Gasoline has a vapor density that is heavier than air, therefore it sinks to the floor and can collect in a low point or confined space that isn't vented. It also has a flammable range of 1.4 to 7.6%, which means it actually takes very little gasoline to form a combustible atmosphere in a confined space.

Gasoline ignites and burns as a vapor, not a liquid. If you are smelling it in your sealed garage, you have a fuel leak and are at risk of blowing your house up if you don't find the source.

You don't smell it out in the open because the fuel vapors are sinking to the ground and dissipating before it gets to your nose.
 

RiverDave

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Used to have the same issue with our Nordic filing up the garage with fumes. The hose fittings from the tank to the vent were loose

From the tank to the vent? Was it spilling gas in the boat while underway or something?
 

Mark G

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From the tank to the vent? Was it spilling gas in the boat while underway or something?
No smell of gas at all when it's outside, or underway. We've buried our heads in the bilge and have taken a couple floor boards out. No gas smell at all. It’s a 2010 Surpreme V-Drive in great shape. Pretty sure it's got something to do with the vents. I'm going to pull the boat out this week and go through it again. I'm going to vent the garage anyway to get the air circulating a bit...
 

Mark G

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Gasoline has a vapor density that is heavier than air, therefore it sinks to the floor and can collect in a low point or confined space that isn't vented. It also has a flammable range of 1.4 to 7.6%, which means it actually takes very little gasoline to form a combustible atmosphere in a confined space.

Gasoline ignites and burns as a vapor, not a liquid. If you are smelling it in your sealed garage, you have a fuel leak and are at risk of blowing your house up if you don't find the source.

You don't smell it out in the open because the fuel vapors are sinking to the ground and dissipating before it gets to your nose.
I'm going to go through it again this week and keep it outside. I'm up every 2 to 3 weeks in the winter but will figure it out. There's just no smell at all when we stick our heads inside the engine compartment or remove a couple floorboards.
 

dirtslinger2

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Like it's been mentioned a bunch, you got something going on.

I have 2 boats, a motorhome, a SXS, a 65 VW, a Baja Bug, 2 vintage stand-up skis, and 2 half full gas cans in my shop, I have never opened up the shop and smelled fumes.

In my 2 car garage, there is a 32 Ford, and a 2001 jeep, again, never walked in and smelled gas.

I have a 3rd garage, it has another Baja bug, a dune buggy, and Rhino in it, all carburated. I go in that garage about twice a year, also, never smelled gas fumes.
 

RiverDave

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Like it's been mentioned a bunch, you got something going on.

I have 2 boats, a motorhome, a SXS, a 65 VW, a Baja Bug, 2 vintage stand-up skis, and 2 half full gas cans in my shop, I have never opened up the shop and smelled fumes.

In my 2 car garage, there is a 32 Ford, and a 2001 jeep, again, never walked in and smelled gas.

I have a 3rd garage, it has another Baja bug, a dune buggy, and Rhino in it, all carburated. I go in that garage about twice a year, also, never smelled gas fumes.

Impressive line up!
 

Flying_Lavey

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I'm going to go through it again this week and keep it outside. I'm up every 2 to 3 weeks in the winter but will figure it out. There's just no smell at all when we stick our heads inside the engine compartment or remove a couple floorboards.
Have a GOOD mechanic (not saying the others weren't) smoke test the fuel system and for an extended period of time. That would be the way to test for leaks. Not visual and sniffs. You can't really see the fumes and you aren't necessarily looking for liquid. Any moving air can easily blow the smell away when moving around the boat and take parts on and off.
 
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