I have a 1994 Ford Explorer. We are smelling gas fumes inside. I took it to a shop in town. They told me that the fuel pressure regulator is leaking. Other then the gas fumes the Explorer runs fine. There is no signs on the ground on or in the fuel gauge of loosing fuel. They also told me to take the rig home and park it until the fuel pressure regulator is replaced because of a high risk of the regulator seal failing and spraying gas everyware in the engine compartment and starting a fire. Is that possible? How hard is it to change the regulator? Can some please point me to a picture showing were the regulator is? Also can the regulator be safely bypassed untill it can be replaced?

Steve

 

The fuel pressure regulator can't be by-passed.
It's not difficult to replace and most used internal allen head bolts to secure them to the mounting. If you decide to replace it make sure you don't lose the "O" ring under it when mounting it.

 

usually if a fuel pressure regulator is bad it dumps fuel into the engine and causing the engine to flood or run too rich and black smoke comes out of the tail pipe. all it is supposed to do is allow excess fuel to return to the tank. it doesn't hurt it any to replace it if it's bad. usually you can tell when it has raw fuel in the vacuum hose located on the top of the regulator.

 

Other then a mild gas smell the Explorer runs fine. It starts easy, it runs very smooth and no smoke of any kind from the tail pipe. That return line to the gas tank, could it have a pin hole on the top side of the line, were gas won't drip but it will let vapors out? There is no evidence of gas on the ground and the gas gauge doesn't show any evidence of excessive gas loss. The run from Spokane, Wa to Kennewick, Wa on tue, the Explorer used just a bit under a half a tank of gas after fill up. That is normal for that Explorer. I have made that drive many times in this Explorer.

 

Probably would be a good move to get a second opinion from someone that can actually see the vehicle.

 

I did have someone look at the Explorer and he told me the fuel pressure regulator needs to be replaced. And the cheapest fuel pressure regulator that I can find local is around $105.00. But with the explorer is running fine and only a small amount of gas smell. I just don't know.