Exhaust Smell In Cabin

[RCCC]

Is it normal to get exhaust smell in cabin when driving hard?

[beemae30]

No it shouldnt be. . . . . check for loose bolts etc on the exhaust manifold, dump pipe, rear turbo housing etc.

[RCCC]

Thanks mate, looks like an early visit to the HPC is warranted. This happened after I took the car to Cambelltown HPC, never again!!!

No it shouldnt be. . . . . check for loose bolts etc on the exhaust manifold, dump pipe, rear turbo housing etc.

[beemae30]

They have probably coated the flanges causing the gasket not to seal.

[RCCC]

They do that in simple routine 6 monthly services?

They have probably coated the flanges causing the gasket not to seal.

[fungoolie]

It's surprising the vehicle cabin leaks so much that any gas in your engine bay is getting in at all even if the exhaust was leaking. Modern cars have cabin sealing tighter than a frogs backside. This might be clutching at straws but has anyone ever changed a pollen filter and noticed if incorrectly fitting the new one could have comprimised the ventilation system sealing? Other than that or a disconnected PCV valve I'm also at a loss as to what the NHPC may have done during a routine service to cause this problem.

Edited May 3, 2011 by fungoolie

[beemae30]

ahh my bad i thought you mean't high performance coatings. And no they shouldn't have touched anything.

[GTR-N1]

1) Once you smell the exhaust gas, can you stop the car > quickly open the boot > is the smell more prominent there?

2) Can you dust the rear boot rubber moulding with talcum powder > close the boot > open the boot > see if there is any powder remaining that indicates a poor seal?

Just looking at a simple possibility.

[RCCC]

Thanks mate, I'll give it a try, however my next service is due, it's time to get the HPC to take a look of the car, I think it's running a bit rich with heavy carbon residue buildup in the exhaust tip.

1) Once you smell the exhaust gas, can you stop the car > quickly open the boot > is the smell more prominent there?

2) Can you dust the rear boot rubber moulding with talcum powder > close the boot > open the boot > see if there is any powder remaining that indicates a poor seal?

Just looking at a simple possibility.

[GTR-N1]

Make sure you let us know the outcome.

CO and CO2 are colourless and odourless (whilst mixed in with exhaust particles and SO2 etc)

[fungoolie]

Thanks mate, I'll give it a try, however my next service is due, it's time to get the HPC to take a look of the car, I think it's running a bit rich with heavy carbon residue buildup in the exhaust tip.

Dont read too much into that. Unleaded cars running at stoichiometry or leaner even after a long country trip still show black exhaust tips. Gone are the days of nice grey or powder white exhaust tips after an open road run.... Rich or not, you shouldn't be smelling it inside the car. My solution? Give it to the NHPC and say fix it! After all, thats what the warranty's for. So you dont have to worry about such things...