Recently i have been getting severe exhaust fume smell in the car only when the defrost is on, It makes me feel sick. I installed a new cabin filter with carbon to no avail, i cannot locate any or hear any exhaust leaks, when i drive its ok but when iam parked or at a red light it get it bad even if there is no other cars around me that would make me think its coming from another car, Any suggestions, opinions, Solutions ? I suffer from migranes from time to time and these fumes do not help them, even with the windows open.

 

Have it put on a lift and check for a minor exhaust leak around the headers up to the ypipe

Sent from the batcave

 

I had it up in the air, took off the y pipe and headers , replaced all gaskets, still smell it, did not see any cracks in the manifolds.

 

Hmmm so its more of a gas smell then oil ? I would check fuel lines, fuel rail, all hoses dealing with fuel or exhaust, maybe u have a pin hole in the fuel line and have a fuel leak but i pray its not that. Its probaly something we over looking very small

Sent from the batcave

 

Clogged cat?

 

I agree

Sent from the batcave

 

Guess i have to agree, Its a heavy exhaust smell. Been getting a P0420 code also.

 

What's your exhaust set-up like? I've been getting this also, and I don't have any cats. I also only get it on defrost, etc. Recirc, IIRC. Checked the flex pipe, looks OK, this was suggested when I posted about it a while back.
I changed the rear gasket about 4 years ago, and the smell has been around for the past 2 years, and I hardly put any mileage on this thing.

I smell it with and without the FastCat on there. I'm a step or 2 behind you because I have yet to change my gaskets because that is just a PITA IMO, but seems as if that didn't do much for you.

 

Mine is all stock except from the cat back. just scratching my head on this one, about to buy a warpspeed pipe and some headers to see if that gets rid of the smell.

 

Is yours a non catalyzed smell, or cat-like smell, sulfur etc.? Mine smells like an old chevy even when I have the fast cat on, so I'm assuming it's from there forward. Even though my flex pipe looked OK, it still may not be.

 

Yeah its just a exhaust smell like a old 60's car , no cat smell. wondering if its the flex pipe section i had replaced, it was welded in, dunno if the weld has a small leak or not.

 

Maybe the flex itself is porous and letting exhaust through?

 

Is there any better way to know that? Aside from looking inside of it and looking for light or black spots/leaks.

 

Guess i am going to just replace it,. it "should" solve the problem, note the sarcasm.

 

I`d follow the codes, if you dont have an EVAP code, and theres no fuel leaks, the cats seem to be the most likely culprit here.
Even if there is or isnt an exhaust leak

 

turning on the front defrost disables recirculation. Use regular HVAC settings with recirculation on until the car is fully up to temp, then turn on the defrost. The cats need to warm up to start eliminating stinky unburnt exhaust/fuel smell.

That should solve the smell. Unless you have some catalyst issues and they are no longer performing to spec.

If you need defrost for frost/freeze, start eliminating the need by covering the windshield overnight with a towel or blanket. People on night shift do that at work so they can hop in and go.

 

Ok we've been here long enough to know the basics, that's why we're posting.

1.) He has no cat smell, so that eliminates the cat issue. Me, I have no cats.

2.) My car gives a strong smell with no recirc, and really strong smell with it, possibly the same for Prof.


I may go with a flex section replacement. Cheap, and if it doesn't fix it, then obviously I will turn to the header gaskets.