fumes in cockpit

[Bobbybedtime]

Hi all,
Hope you can help. I'm suffering from exhaust fumes inside the cockpit. I always get out of the car stinking and its a pain to ge anywhere because of the smell.
Its worst when the roof is up and one window open. Keep the window shut and no fumes.
Put the roof down and fumes.
I've blocked up every hole I can find with mastic.
Engine is not suffering from excessive breathing and it has new exhaust manifold gaskets which don't appear to be leaking.
Is it just my car or have others suffered from this.
Regards,
BBT.

[adam quantrill]

Have you checked the gearstick gaiter? Under the leather one there is a rubber one which seals the hole, this is likely shredded by now. I used one off a ford cut down to size, if you have a friendly scrapyard you could try them.

You shouldn't really be getting fumes in the first place but maybe the engine is a bit fumey - check the breathers are clear. Also check the exhaust for leaks especially near the joints from the manifolds to the main box.

[Grady]

Assuming the exhaust is tight, you may be sucking in exhaust from the tail pipes. The aerodynamics are tricky - that's why 70-80s XJ-6s had those extra exhaust tips.

Try temporarily adding a short (non-flammable) bit on the end of your exhaust to put the end in the slipstream and out of the "boundary effect" close to the car.

Just a thought - Grady

[Wedg1e]

adam quantrill said:

Have you checked the gearstick gaiter? Under the leather one there is a rubber one which seals the hole, this is likely shredded by now. I used one off a ford cut down to size, if you have a friendly scrapyard you could try them.

You shouldn't really be getting fumes in the first place but maybe the engine is a bit fumey - check the breathers are clear. Also check the exhaust for leaks especially near the joints from the manifolds to the main box.

From memory, the rubber gaiter I used (as advised by HHC) was ex-Sierra. The early Tasmin used a different one but I suspect stocks of 1927 Throgmorton Special parts had dried up...

Think the Sierra gaiter fitted best with the 'Diesel' marking pointing forward!

[JVaughan]

Have had this for as long as I can remember .. always put it down to the fact that the design of the car didnt take into consideration the flow of gasses from the exhaust .. the "TVR Smell" is a gimmi as far as I have been concerned .. not to the point of fumes making you sick inside the car, but the fact you always have that "unburnt" hydrocarbon" aromaon your clothes

[Bobbybedtime]

Thanks for the replies, I'll check the gearbox gator. I'm guessing the whole centre console comes out, any tips or is it straight forward?
JV, The fumes are really bad and are burnt gases, I also like the smell of unburnt H/C, get my fix everyday working at a refinery.
Regards,

[mac123yre]

i had the same problem and it was a small spilt on the rear box where the tail pipe comes out, its a new system as well!!!

[JVaughan]

oo onot good then ..... Ill check the gearstick gater on mine this weekend and just make sure its fitted correctly

[bigall]

hi also had this problem with 350 had a small spit in exhaust above drive shaft also check boot sealing trim they suck fumes through speakers checked both on my car and cured the problem not sure which was causeing it

[jeff m]

For cars with the bonnet air intake check the rubber/foam sealing gasket on underside of bonnet, and any holes in the box section that it connects to. You could be drawing from engine compartment.

Even with no exhaust leaks it is possible to get fumes from crankcase breather. (although cars should have neg crankcase pressure)

[darren1981]

Hi all,

Bobby,

Did you get this problem sorted?

I have just purchased a lovely 1981 Tamsin convertible which has been well restored, but I have this same problem... Whenever I go out for a drive with the roof off, I end up feeling sick from the fumes and my clothes stink of petrol/exhaust. The same happens with the roof on and windows up - BUT it's a very, very minor smell compared to stink from the roof off.

From reading this thread and speaking to others, it sounds like the problem is coming from the rear exhaust tail pipes angle which creates an air pocket pulling the fumes back into the car and the only way to sort this is to get some curved tail tips that point downward, which I imagine will look gross!! anyway, I'll give this a try and feedback on the results... not sure if anyone else has any better solutions?

[Wedg1e]

There's also a (usually shoddily-fitted) rubber grommet in the firewall that seals around the speedo cable/ bonnet release etc... fumes could get in that way.

[Grady]

darren1981 said:

Hi all,

From reading this thread and speaking to others, it sounds like the problem is coming from the rear exhaust tail pipes angle which creates an air pocket pulling the fumes back into the car and the only way to sort this is to get some curved tail tips that point downward, which I imagine will look gross!! anyway, I'll give this a try and feedback on the results... not sure if anyone else has any better solutions?

I'm not sure you need a very long or curvy extension(s). An inch or two of straight pipe might do the trick. Mine are just chrome extensions that extend the steel exhaust. Grady

ETA - How far do your tips extend beyond the body?

Edited by Grady on Friday 9th July 01:27

[darren1981]

Wedg1e said:

There's also a (usually shoddily-fitted) rubber grommet in the firewall that seals around the speedo cable/ bonnet release etc... fumes could get in that way.

...funny you should mention that Wedg1e.. because the speedo isn't working due to a very small part missing from the end which I'm waiting to be delivered from Ford.. Thanks for that, I'll have a look and see if a grommet is missing...


Grady, I have no bumper on the back so the pipes look like they stick out a bit but also look quite different to most others I've seen as they're straight not curvy. I'll upload some pics here this weekend, would be good to see some pics of yours too if poss?

[Bobbybedtime]

Took a while but finaly fitted the new rubber gaitor on the gear stick, clamped it down with a circle of thin ally plate and silicon mastic.
Still loads of fumes ...
Put clean rucksack in the boot, did a short drive. When I took it out it smelt really bad so will look in this area now. Will also look at the exhaust extension as its easy to do.
Regards,
BBT.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate.. Im gettin the same in my 280i and 1. My gearstick gaiter is knackered, 2.Nearside mid section exhaust needs reseating, Hope this helps.. Zig

[bigall]

hi i had a problem with exhaust fumes tried all the hole blocking turned out to be small split in exhaust pipe

[Bobbybedtime]

Finally found the problem ... or at least 95% of it. My car has some odd tail lights made by the previous owner. These lights sit in the 'pod' which is part of the body. It looks like normally the wiring passes through a small hole, probably with gromit. With mine, five 1 inch holes have been drilled in the pod to accomodate the longer light fittings. There are also two speakers in the rear bulkhead. I thought exhaust fumes may be getting dragged into the boot through the light fittings then into the cockpit via the speakers. Anyway, sealed up the light holes and sealed the speakers and problem virtualy non existant. I do have a small blow on the exhaust which I will get around to fixing during the winter.
Regards,
Bob.

[mrzigazaga]

Just thought id mention it.. Not sure if this applies but i had a smell of petrol in the cabin in my 280 and it was the 50mm ID filler neck to tank connector hose x 2.Behind drivers seat under speaker panel. The hose can be hard to find but i found some, Dont use samco hump hose it is not fuel resistant..The breathers are 5/8th" from tank to neck and 6mm from neck to atmosphere. Personally i think the filler neck could lose an 1" or 2 at the bottom as it is fiddly and connection could be made simpler, Hope this helps,,