Nissan Repair: Nissan Altima 98 - sudden smell of gas, canister purge valve, nissan altima

Question
Hi,

I drive a Nissan altima 98 and yesterday while driving, it suddenly started to smell very strongly of gas. I figured I hadn't let the car warm up enough (It just reached freezing temps here) before driving ( I was going around 120km/h) I slowed down and the car stopped smelling like gas. Then the gas smell came back today while in traffic going about 40km/h. It's always very sudden and stong.

I would like to know if (1) you think I shouldn't drive the car anymore before taking it to a mechanic? and (2) What could possibly be wrong?

Thank you in advance
Karish

Answer
Karish,

The car should not smell of gas like you describe and I would take it in at the soonest opportunity.  If the car runs fine but smells would lead me to think you have a hose that is cracked or a loose clamp and you have a leak.  Since yours is a 1998 the check engine light should show that you have a vapor leak.  If there is no code perhaps you just have some injectors that are leaking and putting too much gas through the car.  If there is no leak it would be ok to drive but I would get it to a shop and get it diagnosed.  The gas mileage must be down if it is smelling like gas.  Oh, one other thing that can cause this is the canister purge valve cycling and if a hose was loose on that it would make the gas smell without throwing a check engine code.