I have a 1991 camaro RS with a V8 305 700R transmission. I just bought it and I just noticed that while my A/C is on it smells like fuel inside the car. I turn it off and it seems to either go away or just gets faint enough that I dont notice it anymore. A/C is on while Im drving but I dont notice the smell but when Im at idle in traffic it gets pretty unbearable. Anyone have any ideas Im open to suggestions.

 

You have a leak either in a fuel supply line, return line, fill hose, evap line, the gas tank, fuel filter, or sending unit (top of tank). You'd want to get under the car asap to track it down to make sure it's nothing dangerous. Well, open gas fumes aren't anything to take lightly, but a dripping gas leak is worse than an open vent. Your leak could be coming from anywhere on the car and working it's way inside.

 

I put it in my garage last night and I figured since its closed and well lit I would see if it were a fuel leak but Im not seeing any fluids on my floor. I'm thinking its fumes but whats more interesting is how the odor is strongest when the A/C is on. That makes me wonder if the leak is in the engine compartment.... What do you guys think?

 

The air conditioning itself is a sealed system, so you'd be pulling in the fumes through the fresh air venting. Gas fumes could be coming from anywhere and laying under the car, not necessarily in the engine compartment. That would be a good place to start looking, but don't stop there. Gas fumes can act like a water leak, getting in nowhere near where the source is.