I have noticed now that it's colder there is a nasty exhaust smell in the car when I am at idle. I use to just think it was sucking up all the fumes from cars around me but a friend said something last night when I was stopped in a driveway.

Anyone else notice this on their car? Mine is pretty high in mileage (137,XXX) and a recent google found Altima folks have had issued with cracks in the ex. manifold around the 140k mark but figured I would post here before I have the dealer look at it when I take it in for an oil change.

No CEL/SES lights on but I am probably running on OG oxygen sensors.

Thanks all.

 

I have noticed this recently as well. I just had the bearing issue (read engine out and taken apart) so I must have something leaking or out of spec.

 

I'm just playing the Devils advocate or maybe just being naive but either way, is this all the time when the car is running or is there a chance that wind direction was pushing exhaust from the rear towards the front of the car in these instances?
If it's while the car is moving then that is truly disturbing. I only have 35k on mine but I hope for you higher mileage guys that this is not something to look forward to. CO has no smell so this is potentially very dangerous. I seriously don't discount any of your concerns but suspect wind direction may have something to do with this, especially in the instance of idling in a driveway.
Please elaborate.

 

I got it again this week. Door closed before engine start button pressed. And fumes in the cabin.

 

When starting the car, the catalytic converter needs to warm up before doing its job and eliminating the fumes. What your smelling is just the fumes of the exhaust that has not been scrubbed by the cold catalytic converter.

 

Thanks capn obvious! I know why the exhaust smells during cold startup. Question in my case is why do I now have fumes in the car after they pulled my engine? Its strong.

 

Based on your comments "i got it again this week" it sounds like it doesn't happen all the time and your other comment about the "Door closed before engine start button pressed" suggested to me that it happens when you first start the car. I just based my response on what your telling me... no need to be all snappy. If they just pulled your engine, then just go back to the dealer and let them diagnose it as many things could have gone wrong with replacing an entire engine that may attribute to the strong fumes.

 

If you have an exhaust smell in you car then it is a problem. Don't pass it off as being cold outside or a cold catalytic converter. If that was the case everyone living in a cold climate during the winter would have this problem. One of you have had major engine work done so more than likely something in the rebuild has failed, or the exhaust manifold could have a crack. In any event the problem needs to be looked at for safety reasons.

 

I did not mean for it to come out that snappy. I just love having strange issues that are a pita to diagnose. Let alone dealership diagnostics.

 

I always forget to check my post here! My bad :0

I have it scheduled to go in tomorrow to a Nissan specialist to look at the smell. He confirmed w the that the Max didn't really have the issue the Altima's did with the cracked headers so my car is special!

But I did check and if the car is running and I open the hood there is a strong smell at the firewall so something is up. Fingers crossed my warranty will cover it since they would not cover last winters issue that was another "my car only" thing. Exhaust camshaft retarding sensor or something. And sadly it was not the CPS :/

I will report back on my findings!

 

I smell like an exhaust pipe everywhere I go after driving my 2020 maxima. Nissan denies there's any problem. Can't be true. Replay if you also have this issue!