Printable View
Lately ive been smelling a strong gas smell after long hot trips. Its not a normal gas smell, but more of a overcarubrated old car exhaust smell. Any idea what this might be??
I read something on Miata.net about running extremely rich can produce this smell, but I dont see how that could have happened just recently with no change in performance.
Im going to pull the plugs & crawl under there when I get a chance to check for a leak, but doesnt smell like a leak.
Anyone have any ideas??
::Fart:: Might want to lay off the beans. ::Clown::
Has it been running cooler than normal?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
Leave it to you to say that! ::Horse::
No, not that I can tell anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Only thing thats different is I have not been running the AC lately in the cooler weather, & turn off the recirc. Now that I think about it, this may be why the smell is coming into the cabin, but still ive never smelled anything that strong from the outside before, so something has to be wrong.
Nice one Titus :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Titus
:D
Maybe the exhaust gases are blowing back up into the car with you coolie exhaust!?
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...61_67_full.jpg
That's a good possibility since it looks as though the tailpipie doesn't extend completely out of the rear bumper. I would extend it out a bit.Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Merv
So you only notice it with the car sitting still and not running?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiggerachi
I cut the exhaust like that months ago, dead summer, its only started smelling in the last few weeks with the cooler weather, so I dont think thats it.
After a decently long trip I start smelling it in the cabin, when I park & get out I can smell it pretty far away, not normal exhaust.
I did just change the o2 sensor, but I believe I noticed the smelling a couple of days before that.
Is it stronger in the trunk/back area? Maybe the filler tube is loose?
Get some Seafoam and see if you have an exhaust leak at the O2 sensor.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiggerachi
Now thats a way to check for exhaust leaks, hadnt thought about that.
Just got to have time, damn moving...
I thought about that, & hadnt had a chance to check it out, but from what ive observed so far, it seems to be coming from the engine...ish area, & dosent smell like pure liquid gas.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammm
In any event...I need to rule that one out QUICK! ::Drive2::
Well, a quick smell around the pre driven car this afternoon revealed no smell at all, driving home from work I barely smelled the gas smell, & only when I was stoped at lights. Park at home & no smell outside, aside from a brief whiff getting out of the car. A quick smell around the engine bay, exhaust, trunk, random parts under the car(not on jacks), I smelled a slight gas smell under the passenger side rear wheel well, not enough to even be revalant, but thats where the fuel filter is, maybee its as simple as a loose hose?
But I wonder why it wasnt making the smell at all on the way hoe loke normal. Could this be the cat going out?? Maybe stinking only when extremely hot??
Is the wife pour flammable liquids on you while you sleep?
When a :cat: goes out it has a definite smell. Did you overfill it at the gas station lately? I'd take the time to look at the fuel filter.
I overfilled at a gas station like 3 weeks ago, I would think it has dried up by now, plus wouldnt it stink even when the car was off??
Ok, im stumped...
Went out to the car, smelled all around...nothing. Turned it on & hte exhaust was the exact smell!
After driving it awhile I got home & smelled around & nothing, not even on the side that smelled earlier.
Any ideas??
If it is the exhaust, I know I have a leak where the pipe goes into the muffler, that might be how it gets into the cabin, but why would the exhaust produce this smell so sporatically??
Whatever it is its starting to sound expensive...
If it was me... I'd run it low on gas... throw a tankfull of Chevron gas in it with a bottle of Techron engine cleaner... and if it's still smelling like it's running pig rich, throw a can of seafoam through and do a tune-up on the car...
Those things are all WAY cheaper than trying to throw a new :cat: on it.
RJ
I have ran a few bottles of techron in it awhile ago, & did my second seafome tuneup just a week or 2 before this all started...
Did your gas mileage drop too? If so, maybe your O2 sensor needs replacing.
RJ
Go back and re-read post 10... he said "I did just change the o2 sensor, but I believe I noticed the smelling a couple of days before that."Quote:
Originally Posted by channelmaniac
Hmmm...
You did the Seafoam, you replaced the O2 sensor, you did Techron... Unless your plugs are WAY out of gap (which should affect how the car runs too...) I'd say :cat:
When they start to fail they will fail in a few different ways... clog up, break apart, stink, or overheat... I've had 'em do all but stink, but I've heard of that happening to a few people... Overheating was interesting... An old Toiletta... er Toyota I used to have had cat problems - It was glowing cherry red!
RJ
Strange...if my cat was going out wouldnt there be a huge performance decrease?? I forgot to set my alarm this morning, so yea shes still peppy as ever.
My gas mileage has been up by 2-3 also, after I changed the o2.
No smell this morning at all, after a fairly hard drive...
Edit: Just weighing my options here, any one have a used cat for cheap??
I'm thinking you may just be paranoid, have the voices been louder lately also? ::Clown::Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiggerachi
^ I thought that last night, but my wife says shes been smelling gas lately too...
Voices...what voices ::Whisp::
I guess ill just pull the plugs & take a look up under the car & wait for it to come back.
Thing is, my inspection is way out & I need to have it done, but I dont want to fail & lose 40 bucks.
When is it due for an inspection? That will tell ya quick if the :cat: died!
I'm still thinking exhaust leak before the :cat: that could be it also, you need to get under that turkey this weekend and check the fuel filter to make sure it isn't leaking! ::Drive2::
Well, before you go replacing the cat...
Have you tried turning the key on and sniffing around the trunk or around the fuel filter?
Maybe you have a leak and if you can turn the fuel pump on and make sure the system is pressurized you can check that before you go to the trouble of trying another cat.
RJ
You don't need no stinkin' ::cat:: ...
By the way, anyone have a ::cat:: I can buy for cheap? ;)
About 6-7 months ago...Quote:
Originally Posted by POS Racing
Im thinking the whole exhaust system is shot to hell, you saw how rigged it was under there.
Do you have to pay for an inspection if your car fails? That's messed up if it's true. I always pay when they finish. though I have never had a car fail an inspection before.
I was under the impression that you pay, pass or fail, but if you fail you get one free re-inspection.Quote:
Originally Posted by jolberry
Bingo! That is correct... you get one more go around within 30 days.
^Right, but if I fail because of a possibly expensive exhaust issue that I cant afford, then im back where I started.
I was talking to somebody about this, they were telling me that sometimes if you get gas with a high ethanol content it can produce a strange smell. Ive also heard Racetrack puts ethanol in their gas to keep it cheap, from a few people in the past.
Any truth to either of these statements?? I did fill up at racetrack around the time this has been happening.
I think the reinspection has to be within 15 days. At least that was the case with my OTM. It's sticker expired in 03 and I got a new one yesterday. Thanks Irving Emissions Waiver Inspection Station!Quote:
Originally Posted by Treibenschnell
Ethanol is colorless and odorless :-) Just like gasoline. Ethanol is also expensive to produce, but is government subsidized. It is also a required additive. Lots of other stuff is added to gasoline - some of it to make it colorful and give it an unpleasant odor. Different additive packs are specified by different retailers. Some of the lower cost additive packs have a less pleasant smell when they don't fully combust.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiggerachi
^Yea it must have been some variation of that, it hasnt smelled at all since then.