Stinking Cat (Wait for jokes)

[scared but happy]

I decided to take the Chimaera out this afternoon for a topless run (1st time) as the weather has not been too bad.
But the cat stunk soooo bad now it has been in the garage for the last couple of days the roads are dry.

Will it always smell this bad? I cannot find any info on waxoiling (ie done or not). But what is it going to be like in the summer if its this bad well

I keep reading about people having the car de-catted. What is the advantage/disadvantage, cost and I thought all cars post 1990 had to have them?

Suggestions please

[chimtvr]

stinky cat is usually a sign of a fueling problem (o2 sensor not working)give it a good run get it hot the o2 sensor could just be sooted up where you have been sneaking into the garage to rev the engine over the winter

[scared but happy]

Took it for about a 50 min run. The smell was mainly when poodling at at 30. It is not constant but comes and goes but thanks I will have it looked at.

[Alex]

Trust me, de-catting will NOT stop it stinking, it will just be a different stink!

[V8 Archie]

I've only ever had this when the cats needed replacing (on the Clio). In your position I'd get someone to take a look and seriously consider removing them entirely if the cats are indeed shot.

Smelly cat, smelly cat...

[chimtvr]

the smell is the cats overheating because theres unburnt fuel hitting them if left it will destroy the cat
you need a cat if you are ever to pass a legit mot or roadside emissions test

[scared but happy]

OK thanks for replies. It is NOT continious its just now and again but I will have it checked - Blimey only had car for about 2 weeks and already going to splash out

[scared but happy]

Also forgot to add when starting the fuel tank makes a banging sound - only once as if the tank is expanding/contracting are these two things connected?

[chimtvr]

scared but happy said:

Also forgot to add when starting the fuel tank makes a banging sound - only once as if the tank is expanding/contracting are these two things connected?

No
the bang you will get used to
just a thought but when i first bought the chim i permanently thought things were burning was stunned at the smells around me after driving a bmw with charcoal filters suddenly getting back into reasl air with real smells took a while to get used to it

[scared but happy]

mmmm. You may be right, I did notice the nice aroma of pig st, this is the first convertable I have owned. I did not notice anything with the top up.

[wedgie]

For anyone else suffering from this problem, I would like to reopen discussion.

Tonight the PNJ got a good drink - the tank got so full that it overflowed (obviously badly-set pump trigger). This, I suspect, resulted in the breather pipe getting a goodly dose of pure Optimax.

Result - after three miles the engine started dying, then cut out. Symptom was a strong sulphurous smell and a massive vaccuum in the tank.

Vented the tank, kept the revs up on the way home (to ensure the carbon can would vent). Now all's well.

I suspect overfilling the tank ends up in fuel going down the breather and ending up (somehow, maybe via the pipe from the can to the plenum?) in the cat, where it burns - hence the nasty smell, and also causes a vaccuum in the tank.

Anybody got any ideas (apart from the obvious one of not filling the tank)??

[pupp]

Can't tell if my cat stinks as it's wrapped in plastic bags and in the loft until October

[Blipi]

Please, for the sake of humanity, think of the kittens!

[Chris Smith]

wedgie said:

I suspect overfilling the tank ends up in fuel going down the breather and ending up (somehow, maybe via the pipe from the can to the plenum?) in the cat, where it burns - hence the nasty smell, and also causes a vaccuum in the tank.

I confess to overfilling my tank on quite a few occassions (not on purpose), so that the petrol was just below the cap level. Never had a problem from it.

[IM]

pupp said:

Can't tell if my cat stinks as it's wrapped in plastic bags and in the loft until October

Blipi said:

Please, for the sake of humanity, think of the kittens!

Yeah...put them in the bag as well.

Edited by IM on Sunday 11th June 08:39

[M@H]

wedgie said:

I suspect overfilling the tank ends up in fuel going down the breather and ending up (somehow, maybe via the pipe from the can to the plenum?) in the cat, where it burns - hence the nasty smell, and also causes a vaccuum in the tank.

Anybody got any ideas (apart from the obvious one of not filling the tank)??

..not convinced myself because excess petrol fumes on the inlet side are going to get into the engine block with the rest of the air mix, and although they are going to richen the mixture a little, IMO its not going to make the kind of difference that will mean you'll get unburnt fuel getting out of the combustion chamber and into the cat... you'd be having flames out of the exhaust too if that was happening I reckon !!

[wedgie]

M@H said:

wedgie said:

I suspect overfilling the tank ends up in fuel going down the breather and ending up (somehow, maybe via the pipe from the can to the plenum?) in the cat, where it burns - hence the nasty smell, and also causes a vaccuum in the tank.

Anybody got any ideas (apart from the obvious one of not filling the tank)??

..not convinced myself because excess petrol fumes on the inlet side are going to get into the engine block with the rest of the air mix, and although they are going to richen the mixture a little, IMO its not going to make the kind of difference that will mean you'll get unburnt fuel getting out of the combustion chamber and into the cat... you'd be having flames out of the exhaust too if that was happening I reckon !!

Well, I'm open to suggestions, if only to avoid an unpleasant domestic (Trev stranded the Better Half on a dual carriageway with this problem earlier this week).

Somebody out there must know what's causing this?? Please???