Why do my old cars smell?

[vpr]

Norfolkandchance said:

Hi,

I have had a number of 80s cars which leave a smell on my clothes after driving. Oily, exhaust, petrol smell. Obviously people didn't arrive in the 80s smelling of old car.

I assume that as they have got older then they might be running a bit rich, that, though they don't use much oil, they probably burn more than they did, some gadgets are weeping a bit of oil which then burns off when hot etc.

So I'm assuming I need an engine rebuild but I don't really want to rebuild engine that otherwise is working well, can you think of any other sources and suggest remedies?

Thanks

I'm familiar with this smell of fumes too

Drives me nuts. I used to get it in a TR6 I had....nothing I did solved it

I get it in my 260Z so I fitted modern fuel injection......I still get it

I get it in my old Aston and Etype.

I wonder whether they burn as clean these days with the crap additives in the fuel