i just replaced the fuel filter on my car. When i disconnected the snap on fitting from the filter, i knew i would get a little excess fuel that would come out from the fitting. BUT the fuel never stopped coming out. I had to quickly unscrew the other part of the filter and replace it with the new one. The whole time it never stopped coming out. Could this be one the reasons why i get a fuel smell from back there when im driving and when i also get out of the car?Could the fuel pump be the reason? just would like to know if its all normal or not. i also just replaced the EVAP canister as told by a mechanic as to the reason why i get a fuel smell, DIDNT HELP!
thanks

 

If the fuel came out of the front section it was just drain back from the engine. If it came from the tank side, it was just siphoning action from the tank. Not the cause of your problem.

check 2 things, one is the vac line to the fuel regulator and the other is fuel pressure leak down after the car is shut off. See how long it takes to bleed off pressure. It should hold steady for a long time.

If it does not it's either injectors leaking, a hole in the pressure regulator diaphragam or a bad check valve in the fuel pump. but based on what you said, the valve is ok.

 

Before you pulled the filter, did you:

-bleed the fuel pressure off at the Schrader valve?

-open the tank cap to release tank vapor pressure?

Either of those will blow fuel in your face. Continuous flow from the tank we be from pressure in the tank, and as noted above, once you start the siphon with pressure on the tank side, it is going to keep siphoning out.

A fuel smell from the back of the car usually relates to problems with the carbon vapor canister, in the drivers side rear fender, behind the fill pipe. You will get a fuel smell if:

-the canister is saturated with fuel.
-the hoses are rotted at the tank
-the line to the purge solenoid at the engine is plugged with carbon
-the purge solenoid isn't purging
-the pump is overheating, causing more vapor than the system can handle and the vapor is blowing out the pressure relief valve.