After driving my 98 Forester a while, a moderately strong smell of gasoline develops. It does not smell when the car is parked overnight and isn’t strong enough to smell when at highway speed.  When you come to a light you smell it. Occasionally if the car sits it’s hard to start, as if there is air in the fuel line especially if parked uphill. No CEL. It doesn’t seem related to fuel level. It does seem related to the fuel system being pressurized. 

Edited January 8, 20197 yr by Luvn737s

many soobs will seep some fuel as they age - and it doesn't take much to smell strongly.

tighten any fuel clamps you can find under the hood.

there have been people with rusted filler pipes and cracked pump assemblies, etc. , but, start by looking around under the hood for drips or wetness on fuel system parts.

If the above doesn't solve the problem, remove the rear seat and look/sniff around. My newer Outback had me smelling gasoline and the problem was a failing fuel pump gasket. 

Also no dripping after driving. My guess is something related to pressurized fuel. I looked at the sender and pump gaskets but no obvious staining. Fuel filter and rail attachments are secure. If the tank pressurized when it’s running maybe it leaks along the tank or filler neck but I’m not seeing it. 

9 hours ago, 1 Lucky Texan said:

many soobs will seep some fuel as they age - and it doesn't take much to smell strongly.

tighten any fuel clamps you can find under the hood.

I had a similar gas smell on my 2001 Legacy but only in the winter and when idling or driving slowly. On advice from the forum I went around and tightened things up and it went away. I wasn't leaking anything but enough vapours were escaping somewhere.

ive seen the hose clamps on the filter leak from being loose on 3 different outbacks so far id check there.

Yep even replaced the filter and gas cap. 

May as well also check the FPR. Just pull the hose.