Smell of fuel but no sign of leaks

When riding the bike back last year and in January, I could smell fuel more than usual. Also seems to be using a lot, as £10 wasn't lasting very long, about 3 days doing around 25 miles a day, unless that is normal?

Now I haven't used it for a bit, it has been in my garage, took it to the folks for a bit while I needed the space and brought back to mine.

When opening the garage you can smell fuel, but not an overpowering smell of it. No signs of any leaks on the floor etc...

After reading the forum and a search, I have lifted the tank up and checked the hoses to make sure they are connected as they should and also are not cracked. All look okay from what I can see, should there be any clips on the pipe to the tank itself? as it just has the pipe on the connector?

Was going to book it in the garage to have a look but the local one was busy, and working during the week is not possible to get it anywhere. A friend of a friend is also busy at the moment so he cannot look at it either. I need to get it sorted as I need to get it MOT'd so I can use it


Any suggestions what it could be?

[maviczap]

Mine garage does too

I haven't found any leaks, I wonder if its the drain tube rusting away which allows fumes to leak out by the drain hole near the petrol cap

When I have been out for a ride, you can smell it then, but then it seems to come from the front around the handle bars :S

[yorkie_chris]

Hot engine makes petrol vaporise...

If you talk about fuel mileage it's better to work out your mpg rather than us taking a flying guess about how far a tenner gets you.

[Sid Squid]

What bike is it?

This would help.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Hot engine makes petrol vaporise...

If you talk about fuel mileage it's better to work out your mpg rather than us taking a flying guess about how far a tenner gets you.

I have, it was lasting about 3 days doing approx. 25 miles to work and back, so about 75 miles?

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

What bike is it?

This would help.

It is an 04 650S K3


The only thing I have done since getting the bike is change the exhaust, as it had a ART race can when I got it, I put on a MCS Oval RL one now.

Would that affect it at all? as it was okay before.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by N77

I have, it was lasting about 3 days doing approx. 25 miles to work and back, so about 75 miles?

And how much was the fuel?

could be overfueling and you can smell the unburnt fuel?
Also check the tank overflow isnt blocked and that the seal around the cap is in good nick
Might be wise to check that no pipes are kinked.
As a guide my curvy tends to get about 120-125 miles out of a full tank (filled after the light comes on) before the light comes on again and a tenner also gets me about 75 miles

Also i would say stick a hose clip on the pipe from your tank

I've got an SK6, had the same thing with mine last month. The smell got worse and worse over the course of a month, then one morning petrol was leaking onto my engine. It stopped after a minute, so I rode to work, no problem, nothing wrong after work either. Next morning same thing, petrol everywhere.
Did a bit of research, found a common fault with the Fuel injected SV's is the small rubber pipe between the two throttle bodies leaks if the clamps at either end aren't pinched tight enough. So I took the tank and air box off and pinched the two clamps tight. Problem solved, hope this helps!