Smelly

[Waynester]

Now i know all our cars smell fumey... all my previous TVR's have, but.. My SEAC is really stinky!

It doesn't matter if the car has just been started or been run for hours.
Does this mean it is constantly running rich?? And if so, does it mean it could be over fueling and suffering bore wash?
My reason for being cautious is that the engine was re-built a couple of years back..but it's only just done 1300 miles since. I really do think it needs time on a rolling road.
The build receipt shows it has been fitted with original Cosworth pistons etc.. I think it still has the original cam, whatever that is in a 450 SEAC?

The car is horrible to drive when 1st started, and i really don't tbh it needs 3-5 mins to get some heat going otherwise it jerks & bunny hops all over the place!

Does this sound right, and a rolling road very overdue?

[combine]

Wayne , I think this is normal for the Rv8 , but the fuel smell shouldn't be like that , any leaks ? Had the Eann Whalley upgrade now and she is much easier to drive in all gears , will go in 5th at 25mph , no shunting , and pickup is a lot of fun in any gear when flooring , 4th to overtake is fine .

[Waynester]

Hi Steve. It's not a straight 'fuel' smell, more a strong fume smell.
Certainly no fuel leaks of any kind.

All of my wedges have smelled this way but the SEAC more so, certainly gets the neighbours complaining if they have their washing out.

Would be nice to go out in yours.. just to feel the difference.
The upgrade you have unfortunately won't work on my flapper, mores the pity.

The only thing i am concerned with is the overfuel/bore wash issue. Is there anyway of telling this is happening..if at all? Paranoid..me?

Edited by Waynester on Sunday 3rd May 08:32

[redwedge5]

I had a similar sounding problem recently. One of The HT leads was breaking down. Now sorted and the car runs so much smoother and the fume smell is much less as well!

[Transmitter Man]

Wayne,

Mt SEAC was the same.

Among my now normal A4 sheet of jobs I want done I recently told Lee to replace 'all' fuel lines on the entire car regardless.

Problem sorted.

Me thinks these had not been changed since 1988!

Phil
420 SEAC

PS. Where can I find out more about this Eann Whalley upgrade?

[taimar78]

Wayne,
If you are looking at replacing fuel lines, be sure to check the condition of the lines between the two fuel tanks. These are very often forgotten because they are up and out of the way. But if they leaked onto a hot diff......well, you can imagine.
Also, regarding the fuel smell, check to make sure the vent on the filler tube is not compromised in some way.

[honestjohntoo]

Waynester said:

The only thing i am concerned with is the overfuel/bore wash issue. Is there anyway of telling this is happening..if at all? Paranoid..me?

Have you thought of checking plug condition?

• Apart from the intermediate conditions found in any Haynes and most places you care to google "spark plug condition" on the internet, the basics are:

• Wet = gross overfuelling accompanied by strong smell of neat fuel + hardly runs, if at all.

• Sooty Black = Overfuelling producing high carbon based emissions and often black smoke with a foul smell of burned fuel. Will run OK sometimes with good torque but unhappy cruising/idling.

• Normal Light grey/biscuit = Pretty much spot on but much less smell except perhaps at start-up

• Tending towards White = Running lean, My RV8 does this, little or no smell, underbonnet temperature seems too hot and will give the impression of running too hot also, but if the cooling system is 100% efficient and Lubing is spot on, generally OK unless the plugs are being eroded prematurely.

• White - Much too lean, no worries about smell with other things to be concerned about, much too hot, plug damage and terminal valve damage.

• Oh Yes, check ALL the plugs for variances to the norm.

[Waynester]

The car has very recently been serviced but i'll take a look at the plugs and see how they look.
I'm not sure how old the HT leads are so that could def be worth checking.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

[350zwelgje]

As additional potential sources would like to add those I had:

Had an issue with if some fuel spilled while filling, petrol ran along the filler neck on the outside and the pure petrol smell stayed for a long time.
Fixed the rubber ring that was perished around the filler and that solved it.

And the only other time was when overdoing it, trying to fill to 100% and petrol started to use the overfill route and finding its way out at the back of the car (think at one of the rear wheels).

Rob

[simonwedge]

My 350i also smells quite strongly of petrol when it's stood in the garage, had it up on the ramps at RT Racing but everything is a-OK - your combined comments reassure me somewhat that it's not that unusual!