Just purchased a 2005 Outback wagon with 144K miles. Not sure of past maintenance and would like to know what I might be up against. What can I expect to do now and in the immediate future?  I noticed the smell of gas inside the car immediately after filling up. Any ideas..........just filled too full, filter full, or a leak?

 

Thanks for indulging a newbie.

     

I'm not sure on the 05 Outback but on the 2000-04 Outbacks the smell of gas in the cab is a very common problem and the fix is to get under the hood and tighten all the clamps on the rubber hoses on the fuel rail and fuel line. I've had this problem on 5 Outbacks and tightening all the clamps solved it. Leaky filler tube to the fuel tank was also a known problem but I've only had this problem once.

If ANY gas dribbles outside the filler neck, you will ALWAYS get the fuel smell inside. Your first pit stop in your new rig? Maybe you missed.

 

Juan

Thanks for the suggestions. Will check the hoses and clamps and the filler neck. Will verify my aim too.

I had a gas smell in my car.  Turned out to be a tiny hole from a sheet metal screw that some past owner had used to secure something inside the car.  Check to make sure no one hooked up a sub woofer at some time and attached it to the bed in the back not realizing the tank was right underneath.  Long shot, I know.  Sure surprised us.