weird smell

[phayze]

k i keep getting this weird smell when i drive for a long time..its like a gas/vomet/gear oil smell..and tha smell comes from tha engine bay when i drive and i already check for gas leak and theres none ..dose anyone know what this could mean or could be

[moetan]

oil or tranny leak burning off

[90IMPORTACCORD]

yep it should be oil or tranny leaking...check under your car and see if oil is leaking under your oil pan..if it is..you might need a new gasket for the oil pan..but about the tranny leaking..i dont know how to look for dem...sorry hope this help...cause for meeh im getting a new gasket for my oil pan...cause mine is leaking oil also...getting it done this weekend....

[CAMILOSI]

Do you have a catalytic? If it smells like vomit or like rotten eggs that's a bad catalytic or also if it's from engine area I've seen batterys getting overcharged by the alternator and that will smell same way.

[phayze]

Do you have a catalytic? If it smells like vomit or like rotten eggs that's a bad catalytic or also if it's from engine area I've seen batterys getting overcharged by the alternator and that will smell same way.

well i have subs and i bumped the, all the time also tha cat on my car is shit cuz my old f22 fucked it up and no theres no oil leaks

[batever]

It could also be a bad/saturated charcoal canister, which is part of the evaporative emissions system. If that thing gets clogged or saturated with fuel/fuel vapor, then you will smell a gas smell in the engine bay, according to the Haynes manual.

A lot more common is an oil leak onto the front of the exhaust. For example, a drip from the oil filter to the exhaust "A" pipe. Which could originate either at the filter or above it at the oil pressure sending unit. but that will smell just like engine oil burning off, not gasoline.

Another final possiblity is the clutch plate is slipping under load if you have a manual. Autos could have a slipping clutch too but I know next to nothing about automatic trannys.

[phayze]

It could also be a bad/saturated charcoal canister, which is part of the evaporative emissions system. If that thing gets clogged or saturated with fuel/fuel vapor, then you will smell a gas smell in the engine bay, according to the Haynes manual.

A lot more common is an oil leak onto the front of the exhaust. For example, a drip from the oil filter to the exhaust "A" pipe. Which could originate either at the filter or above it at the oil pressure sending unit. but that will smell just like engine oil burning off, not gasoline.

Another final possiblity is the clutch plate is slipping under load if you have a manual. Autos could have a slipping clutch too but I know next to nothing about automatic trannys.

mines manuel

[CB7H22Los]

Regarding this..I also have this wierd smell when I drive long..it doesn't really smell like gas but a certain wierd smell after long periods...I DO have an oil leak so that could probably be the issue...I'm just hopin it lasts me a few more weeks until I go H and I don't hve to worry bout it..but its good to know I wasn't the only one having it so I know what it is.

[TomQuick]

For the most part, by the time an auto is in bad enough shape to stink, you'll have other serious signs that it is past it's prime. Brakes that aren't releasing properly can stink to high hell.

Battery's that are over charging will usually make a LOT of corrosion on the terminals. If you want to check, take a voltage reading across the terminals with the engine running at about 1500 RPM. It should be right around 14 volts. If it's significantly higher than that, it is over charging, though I tend to doubt that is your problem.

Look carefully for oil leaks, especially the valve cover, and oil filter / pressure switch area. Look in the engine compartment carefully with the engine warmed up and running for any signs of smoke, which would point you in the right direction. You can also give the engine / engine compartment a good cleaning, which will make it much easier to spot any leak.

[phayze]

For the most part, by the time an auto is in bad enough shape to stink, you'll have other serious signs that it is past it's prime. Brakes that aren't releasing properly can stink to high hell.

Battery's that are over charging will usually make a LOT of corrosion on the terminals. If you want to check, take a voltage reading across the terminals with the engine running at about 1500 RPM. It should be right around 14 volts. If it's significantly higher than that, it is over charging, though I tend to doubt that is your problem.

Look carefully for oil leaks, especially the valve cover, and oil filter / pressure switch area. Look in the engine compartment carefully with the engine warmed up and running for any signs of smoke, which would point you in the right direction. You can also give the engine / engine compartment a good cleaning, which will make it much easier to spot any leak.

mines already cleaned..and i have an H22 and hav no leaks and its not a clutch burning smell.....and trems do have alot of corrosion ..and also today i was bumpin tha subs i notice tha smell agin but this time tha car was off..and was off for lik a good 8-10 hr

[TomQuick]

If you're really pushing the subs, it could be the subs over heating (they'll stink to high hell) or the amps over heating, or those crusty terminals getting hot. If you're moving a lot of juice through the wiring for your sound system, then you need to make certain that all your wiring connections (and especially the battery terminals) are clean, free from dirt / corrosion, and tight.

If those battery terminals aren't clean and tight, as you start cranking up the volume, the resistance across those terminals gets higher, the voltage in the system gets lower, and so the amperage draw gets higher. This is a vicious circle that eventually ends in something melting, or burning up.

[phayze]

If you're really pushing the subs, it could be the subs over heating (they'll stink to high hell) or the amps over heating, or those crusty terminals getting hot. If you're moving a lot of juice through the wiring for your sound system, then you need to make certain that all your wiring connections (and especially the battery terminals) are clean, free from dirt / corrosion, and tight.

If those battery terminals aren't clean and tight, as you start cranking up the volume, the resistance across those terminals gets higher, the voltage in the system gets lower, and so the amperage draw gets higher. This is a vicious circle that eventually ends in something melting, or burning up.

drity terms can make it smell lik rotten eggs

[TomQuick]

The terminals themselves aren't likely to smell like rotten eggs, however, the dirt and corrosion may well indicate that the connection at that terminal isn't very good. The bad connection can cause the voltage drop / current increase, and that can cause more heat in the amp wiring, and in the amps.

If you're getting that odor after the engine was off for at least 8 hours, and the only thing you're using is your stereo system, then the problem either IS the stereo, or is caused by it. Carefully smell your amps directly, and your subs to see if you smell any trace of that odor near them. Take the battery cables off, clean up the cable ends, and the battery terminals good, and then put the cables back on, and make certain they are good and tight. If you can twist them around with your hand, then they aren't tight enough. If you can see any corrosion, then they aren't clean enough. Also make certain that the ground wire for your amp has a nice tight connection on clean metal, and that the power, and ground wires for your amplifier(s) are the correct gauge (if those wires are too thin, that can also cause problems).

what country / state are you in?

[CrazyxJake]

oil or tranny leak burning off

most likley eh.

[phayze]

The terminals themselves aren't likely to smell like rotten eggs, however, the dirt and corrosion may well indicate that the connection at that terminal isn't very good. The bad connection can cause the voltage drop / current increase, and that can cause more heat in the amp wiring, and in the amps.

If you're getting that odor after the engine was off for at least 8 hours, and the only thing you're using is your stereo system, then the problem either IS the stereo, or is caused by it. Carefully smell your amps directly, and your subs to see if you smell any trace of that odor near them. Take the battery cables off, clean up the cable ends, and the battery terminals good, and then put the cables back on, and make certain they are good and tight. If you can twist them around with your hand, then they aren't tight enough. If you can see any corrosion, then they aren't clean enough. Also make certain that the ground wire for your amp has a nice tight connection on clean metal, and that the power, and ground wires for your amplifier(s) are the correct gauge (if those wires are too thin, that can also cause problems).

what country / state are you in?

canada/ont