Found my 1996 Ford f150, I6 manual, leaking this morning closer towards the hood and the fluid almost smelled like gas, or maybe it is. Checked under the hood and seems I've found the culprit to the leak but I have no idea what the part is. Can anyone tell me?

 

There's a lot of stuff in that picture. Can you add an arrow or some more words? I see an alternator, the side of a radiator, some open cooling ports (for ATF?), what looks like a fuel line or vapor line. Not sure what you're talking about.

 

I am never good at this game either.

In this case I'll assume it's the rectangular canister thing. I do not know (remember) that it is called though.
It's in the center of the image and appears to be wet underneath it.

If you can find a diagram for emissions -you might get clued in as I THINK that is an emissions component. I say that with 20% confidence. I'm thinking something fuel vapor related?

 

That's the fuel vapor canister. It accumulates fuel vapor from the fuel tank(s), and stores it in there until the computer opens the fuel vapor purge valve and dumps the vapors into the exhaust somewhere.
I just broke off one of the nipples on mine when I tried to remove the small hose, and JB Welded it back on. Hoping it stays fixed.

 

Actually the vapor is pulled in to the intake manifold and burned. But, that seems like a likely place to have a gas smell. It's supposed to be a closed system. Must be a crack there or a missing fitting.

 

Eh, my bad, thanks for the correction. It eventually gets to the exhaust !

 

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