Fuel Leak cause CEL?

[Red Shirt KRT]

So I have had an issue of a faint gas smell when the windows are down, I am coming to the conclusion that it is most likely a fuel leak in the fuel hose somewhere near the fire wall, haven't checked yet.

Sometimes my CEL will come on and it will be the O2 sensor code. It used to stay on for a while then go out now it sometimes goes out under hard acceleration when the car starts to lose power. I'm assuming the loss of power is due to the leak.

Could the CEL be caused by the fuel leak? I'm assuming because of the loss of fuel.

[upallnight]

Could be the Evap system, that is why you smell gas fume and why you may have the CEL.

[Red Shirt KRT]

The gas smell has been going on for a while, the CEL has just come on more recently. Maybe because of a bigger leak?

[strad]

What are you working on? You didn't mention that. . . I'm assuming not the iX since you are posting in the E34 section.

Unless you have an over or under delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber, I don't see how a fuel leak could cause a cel. And the cel code for that would most likely be a 1222, not a 1221. I'm assuming you're seeing a 1221. . . What is the age of your 02 sensor? Is it possible that it could be overdue for replacement and has stopped working?

edit: and oh btw. You're braver than I am if you are operating a vehicle with a fuel leak but you don't know where from! That takes cajones!!

[Red Shirt KRT]

Yea it is an E34 95' manual.

I believe it is the 1221 code and it doesn't come on very often. It seems to come on more when it is hot outside, since winter it hasn't come on near as much.

The 02 sensor I believe is the original 185k miles. I don't have another car so I have still been driving it. It has been about 8 months since the gas smell.

We did work on the tank and plugged 2 of the holes on the side, I believe they go to the evap canister, the small plastic tank above the rear right wheel. Maybe that has something to do with the smell and the O2 sensor is a different problem?

[strad]

Your o2 sensor is well past the 100k mile replacement interval. It may or may not be difficult to remove (been there done that lol) but you should seriously consider replacing it if you will keep the car for awhile yet.

[Red Shirt KRT]

I really need to figure out if these are 2 separate issues or one, maybe they are just coincidence.

[Aradaiel]

Fuel leaks don't cause a CEL on obdI cars.

It's possible you're getting a mixture fault because of it, though.

o2 sensor faults are usually mixture related, most often a vacuum leak