I've been noticing a gas smell inside my 1989 GL Wagon. I'm used to diesel, so I'm not familiar with the smell. It sounds like I have an exhaust leak, so it might be that? My friend who has a newer Impreza told me to check the fuel filler neck because that can rust and leak. It's rusty, but doesn't look like it's leaking yet. My fuel economy is higher than I expected, so I don't think I'm losing any fuel. Any ideas?

Check the fuel seperator- small plastic tank mounted behind one of your rear quarter trim pieces, near one of the rear wheel wells. they notoriously do this- I am not sure what leaks, Maybe somebody else could tell you. I would start by looking over the hoses where they go in/out of it.

I think it's most likely the exhaust leak. My GL has a bad exhaust leak..well it's not even a leak anymore, it's a huge hole, and I'm pretty sure she is running rich too, and at stop lights and idling the fumes can get pretty noxious.

I don't think it's an exhaust leak. I'm getting good fuel economy and plugs indicate I'm running lean.

 

And it might be my imagination, but it seems like the smell is more potent the more the tank is full, which makes me feel it's definitely associated with the tank. I'm going to look for the fuel separator. Are there other seals or places I can check like a fuel pump or something? And where do I get a new fuel separator, if that's the issue?

I looked around the fuel separator and fuel pump and didn't see any leaking gas with the engine on or off. Going along with my observation that the smell is more potent with a full tank, it's also less potent or non-existent on the high way, which might point to something having to do with the gas sloshing on turns when it's full. Are there seals on top that could be gone? Such as a fuel sender seal?

Turns out it was a leaky cap for those with a similar issue

Nice follow-up. Just a cap huh? Crazy.