My sheeeetbox smells of gas once it has run for a while. I figured it was the EVAP system after going over the lines and tank carefully. I saw no leaks anywhere. Should I spend the big bucks and replace the Charcoal Cannister (161K miles) or should I continue to work and search for the leak? Since I go to Florida soon, I may just put it up for the winter and shovel all the dirt under the rug.

My 95 does that from time to time. I have looked over ever area of my evap also. Its like it goes into purge mode or something but I cant find it.

Depending on where exactly your getting the smell, you might check the seals around the gas cap and injector o-rings. Thanks to ethanol, we've put 2 new gas caps on the ol runner. I finally choked up for a factory unit for the last which seems of much higher quality then the aftermarket units out there. You'll find ethanol is really doing a number on the rubber components associated with the fuel system in these trucks. Here is a pic of one of the last fuel caps on the truck creating a massive smell.

I'll have to drive it some, but I think I have found the source. I changed the plugs Sunday and found one that was fouled.
The vapourized gas may have been leaking from there. I wonder how long I was driving with only 5 cylinders, too.
Nevertheless, I don't use the 4runner much, especially since I have been working on it in my spare time.
77'911 I did change the gas cap, but haven't checked the o'rings. I will do that if I can.

You might also check the engine compartment, I found after years and the ethanol, the fuel injector o-rings had had it.

The seal on the top of the fuel tank for the fuel pump access port is another culprit for fuel smells over the years. I'm about to tackle that one(parts on the bench) in a month or two.
regards

That picture of a plate of spaghetti has a close resemblance to my current source of headaches. I have found that replacing the wires and plugs improved the odor, but it still smells terrible. Given that Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, there's a big need for improvement here. Thanks for the suggestions.

oh buddy. I recently had the same problem. come to find out, after taking it to a toyota mechanic, and pulling my hair out at the ridiculous amount of gas I was losing, it ended up being a valve that sat right up against the firewall that had lost its set screw. forgive me cause I cant remember exactly what the valve is called right now, but that was my problem. a thousand dollars later, no more smell

So I returned to Florida 10 days ago after doing a brake over-haul grovelling around in a dark, dusty garage there on our '95 Buick Le Sabre, only to face the troubles presented by the '94 Toyota. I figured I had done everything I could myself back when I started this thread, so I brought the filthy creature down to the local lube/tune-up/inspection and oil change garage. They told me what I already knew. The leak was no where to be found. However, they did claim to have corrected something that might be the source of the leak. They also re-affirmed that I had a bad oil leak from the rear main seal. Although willing to do that job, they were talking nearly a grand and that I couldn't afford. In addition I was charged $170 for their work which I thought was quite a bit for a simple tune-up. However, the gasoline smell seems to have left, but I finally realize that the serious odor came from the oil leak. It doesn't seem to leak on the exhaust pipes, but the splutter and blow by must be enough to provide an odor.