My 01 has same gas smell. I suspect charcoal canister. But I have not needed to fix it because there is no problem other than the smell outside the truck.

When filling up gas, go to slightly less than full... about 90%. This will reduce the smell of fumes coming out.

It is worse on hot days because of gas expanding in tank. Fumes are not being recycled and have no where to go but out of the tank.

I have a 2001 4runner. I had a gas smell at the filler and wheel well with codes p0442 and p0440. I removed the gas tank and found one of the small steel tubes connected to the top of the tank rusted off. This steel tube had a rubber hose connected to it. Fuel vapors were escaping from the hole and we're causing the codes to come up. I replaced the fuel tank and the codes went away.

I realize it was a long time ago but I’m new to the forum and was wondering if you ever figured out your gas smell problem. My friend has got an 01 4 runner with the exact problem and no codes. Dealer has replaced just about everything and now tells him it’s just the way this model is. I find that hard to believe.

Holy thread resurrection. Do not go off of what the dealer is saying, the smell of gas fumes is not a "just how it is" type thing.

So, what fixed your 4Runner for the gas smell burping?

So, what fixed your 4Runner after all?

I've noticed that my fuel tank leaks somewhere from the top front of the tank only when I fill up the tank. I do not top off. One click and I stop putting gas in. On hot days, I also notice a gas smell coming from the drivers side. I don't have any codes, but the car did throw a P0420 code when I was off-roading it. I cleared it and it hasn't come back since then. Currently waiting on a replacement fuel tank to see if that fixes the leak and gas smell.

The 2001/2002's are much more complicated. I bought my 2002 SR5 last year. Had rusty top of tank and all emission tubes had rust. Was throwing CEL codes, etc. The answer was everything was replaced - either new or rust free used. Bought a new charcoal canister too.

I didn't want to start throwing one part at a time at it with everything being a current or future error.

One of the hardest parts was putting it all back together. Those tubes route all over the place and they look very similar to another. I documented it somewhere if you need it.

My point of my post - correct, don't overfill the tanks especially 2001/2002s. And if you see one rusty tube you probably have more - just bite the bullet and inspect it carefully. Replace all tubes that are flaky, and all rubber hoses too. It's probably $600 without a new tank but then it's all new.

Interestingly, after all that I had the CEL come back. I looked carefully and there is a tube that wedges in at the gas filler cap. It was plastic and so I added gas resistant gasket sealer and the problem has not returned for 2k miles.

It's a journey.

I realize this is an old thread, but seems to be a recurring issue.

On my 2000 4Runner, I had replaced the gas cap less than a year ago with a new Toyota cap (Amazon) just out of preventative maintenance (seemed like a good idea). But recently I starting smelling gas when engine was running near the left rear of the truck, but saw no leaks and I did get code P0440 once, but cleared and it didn't come back. I have read all the posts about rusty lines and charcoal canisters and other expensive problems/fixes, and was sure I was about to spend some money.

However, on a whim, I bought another new genuine Toyota gas cap (again, I had replaced it with a new Genuine Toyota about a year ago). Looking at the new new gas cap, the rubber gasket in the cap seemed slightly thicker (albeit very slightly, but noticeable), and the vent on the inside of the cap looked slightly different than the cap I bought a year ago?? Also, I took a green scrub pad and lightly rubbed the edge of gas filler neck edge where the cap makes contact just to make sure there wasn't a seal issue (there was a little corrosion/dirt on it, but nothing significant). And the 2nd, new new gas cap has solved my problem for the last 6 months.

I don't know if my first new gas cap was a counterfeit, or just a bad run with a smaller gasket, or maybe the rubber shrunk for some reason, or maybe there was a flaw in the vent on the first new cap???

My point is, even if you have replaced the gas cap, make sure there is a good seal, make sure the neck is clean, and maybe try replacing it again (I typically prefer genuine Toyota when it makes sense, but an aftermarket gas cap might be worth a try just to see if it fits different or has a better seal). And don't throw away your old gas cap (it might be better than the new one).

Just my experience.

Lee