Old car exhaust smell...
Discussion
So the missus is unhappy with the acrid, old car smell of the exhaust fumes on the GTS. She's refusing to go in the car, which is a bit of a plus TBH. To be fair, while I'm happy with the stink of a race car, it's a little anti-social on a road car. Question is what's the source and what's the resolution?
The engine is a low miles LS1 that doesn't burn oil, so I can't see that it's to blame. So is it the tune or cats or what?
The engine is a low miles LS1 that doesn't burn oil, so I can't see that it's to blame. So is it the tune or cats or what?
cats definitely, as soon as I ran without for a very brief time it was a trip down memory lane. Someone somewhere that I know has some 200cel race cats from miltek
by the way, is it the old unfiltered smell of carbons or is it that old acrid smell of oil burning in the exhaust? If the latter you know you are going to be working on those heads of yours
by the way, is it the old unfiltered smell of carbons or is it that old acrid smell of oil burning in the exhaust? If the latter you know you are going to be working on those heads of yours
Mine has been known to run without cats and doesn't smell. However, it did horribly when I had an exhaust leak, check all all the joints under the car. Also, as G suggested, make sure the breathers are all attached and not leaking and if it has a catch can, bin it. Horrible, smelly things!
It's definitely from the back of the car. No catch can, stock breather setup IIRC (Roger?). Roger fitted the exhaust and there's not sign of a leak. The smoke is white, not blue and it doesn't smell like oil. It's the old skool hydrocarbon smell of the type that comes from a Rover TC, Jag 420, Cortina, etc.
I'll sort out some new cats too...item #103 on the list
I'll sort out some new cats too...item #103 on the list
ArnieVXR said:
Roger fitted the exhaust and there's not sign of a leak.
He also did mine but when a bolt fell out of one of the cat replacement sections, it stank at traffic lights. Don't get me wrong, it still smells like an old Cortina from behind but inside the car it's fine which is surely the point? It's an old tech 5.7L petrol, it will never smell Euro 5 emissions-compliant!Your missus sounds high maintenance!
The EVAP hard-line is on the firewall, next to the fuel hard-line. You should find a line coming from the front passenger side of the intake, through a big plastic cylinder (solenoid, like this) to the hard-line on the firewall. If that's attached then I would agree with cats/exhaust leak.
The EVAP hard-line is on the firewall, next to the fuel hard-line. You should find a line coming from the front passenger side of the intake, through a big plastic cylinder (solenoid, like this) to the hard-line on the firewall. If that's attached then I would agree with cats/exhaust leak.
The car was remapped and the engine was not running well when when you bought it. Bet the cats have been oiled, coked up, could have been overheated too. Might not even be a centre in them at all now.
It would be worth just checking on some rollers what the AFR does at various revs and load. I take it you have already got the exhaust pinging hot and there has been no improvement. The car has had a long and varied life so the history of the tune, exhaust etc is not known.
You say the car runs well now, so the O2 sensors and MAF must be functioning correctly?
Highly unlikely to be anything to do with the motor, it's done 21200 miles and has never visited Thunder Road or the like. I have all the oil history if required, 6 or so changes I think in those miles. A new owner may wish to see that.
There's not much if a smell in the car and it's definitely worse when cold. The cat pipes were rotted through, so they're probably fubar. I've got some stainless headers and catless mid-pipes. If I can't source some decent cats, I'll buy some stainless 200-cell jobbies and fit them. After which I'll get it rolling roaded and a new tune made up.
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