hi all

i have started to get petrol  type fumes into the cabin of my 1.8t  mk1 octy mainly when stationary,

i have read the posts on here and have worked my way through most of them... i have removed the pcv system as described on here and now have a catch can fitted, i have replaced every one of the smaller breather hoses with silicone replacments...twice.. just to prove to myself that it isnt a breather hose.i am 99.9% percent positive it isnt a hose.the smell seems to be coming from the right hand end of the engine, if i run the car and hover my head over the sai vavle area it is quite strong however i have noticed that it isnt continuous as in it smells bad then goes away for 30 seconds then comes back etc etc etc. i have checked the corregated plastic hoses from the sai pump to the valve and they are fine and sealing properly. i have checked the air intake hose and maf etc but the smell is not in this area it is definetly coming from the area i have described.

i did have a split plastic hose at the charcoal canister but have replaced this and the brake servo plastic hose was split and this has also been replaced.

my questions are..could the smell be coming from the sai valve on the side of the head, i realise that it only operates when starting from cold but i wonder is there a gasket or something between it and the head as i see that a blanking plate and seal can be bought to remove the valve, if it is possible that it could be the valve then i will remove that as described on here as well and fit a resistor.

secondly could it be the rocker cover gasket? i dont seem to have any obvious oil leaks but could it be a possibility?.

im also fairly sure that its not an exhaust leak and the fuel filter is fitted properly, i am scratching my head guys.

I have no idea, but a few yrs back kne kf kur work vans started passing fumes into th cabin. Turned out to be a tiny oil leak dripping onto the turbo and burning off there.

Might be worth looking for signs of burnt oil on things that get hot?