Really funny chemically exhausty smell!

[LouiseM]

Looking back through your previous posts it seems as though the ‘fumes’ started in July, you resealed the manifold joint and it was fine for a month, then the fumes reappeared in mid August.

Did you do any work to the car shortly before the fumes started? You changed your fuel pipe in mid August - could this be connected to the smell / fumes?

I even took it to millenium motors in Manchester today and they refitted the exhaust, no fumes coming out of there now... but still the smell.

and when I open the windows especially... yes full of fumes! I just CAN'T work out where they are coming from!

So the fumes disappeared on Friday but have now reappeared? Is there ‘smoke’ in addition to the smell? How long has the smell been there for - since July?

Sorry for all the questions but it’s difficult to work out exactly what’s happened. Is it definitely an exhaust type smell rather than petrol? Probably stating the obvious but when you took the car to millenium motors on Friday and kwik fit today did you mention the smell?

It’s difficult to diagnose the actual problem via an internet forum. If I was you I’d contact millenium motors again and explain the problem to see if they have any suggestions.

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, no the July exhaust and fuel pipe were on my saloon, not my traveller - the only thing I have had done on the traveller was have some of the wood replaced, which meant rehanging a door... but it comes in mainly from the windows, not the rear doors..

However, you are right, I think Millenium is the place to go - thanks.

[Arthurdaily]

As for the other questions:

The car didn't produce fumes when I first got it, but I did have some work done on the back doors... but even then there wasn't a smell, it has only been in the last few weeks - at that point I noticed the manifold / exhaust link was poor, so tried it myself, then at millenium motors, then kwik fit - there is def no leak there now plus an extension on the exhuast... the smell is a sort of exhaust smell, but perhaps more acrid, similar to the smell you get when you pull off the oil filler. where it comes from is difficult to tell, slight smell in the cab but gets worse when you open the windows, it seems to blow in ... the same smell is detectable under the car as well when stationary...

However I'll take it back as I've said and hope for the best, it is just difficult when it's your only (working) car!

[LouiseM]

I knew that you had two Minors, just thought that the odds of both of them having exhaust leaks causing fumes were quite high! It was the following quote which suggested that it was the same car with the same problem:

Hi, a while ago I asked about how to refit an exhaust on here, and with your help I did it... but there is still a really bad exhaust type burning smell in the car

Anyway, hope you get it sorted

[picky]

If you set off from cold, with the windows open, do you get the small straight away, or do you only notice it once the engine has warmed up? Is there any part of the exhaust closer than 2" to the bodywork? just wondering if the heat is burning some paint off. Is the engine burning oil? the exhaust can have a really bad smell if its burning oil. You could also try sealing some of the holes in the bulkhead, particularly the one behind the battery, and also the holes for cables/bolts through the bulkhead. Sounds like its going to be difficult to locate the problem, but I hope you get there!

[kennatt]

the smell won't be coming in through the windows,its coming into the car via the holes in the bulkhead where cables run through or up through the floor,opening the windows lets the air flow through the car and draws the fumes in.Had the same problem with an mgb with a worn out engine fumes in the engine bay were getting into the car as soon as i Opened a window. used to have to run it with the heater blower going to pressurize the interior to stop it getting in. I would suspect your engine is fuming.Without going back through postings ,have you taken the oil filler off and reved the engine to see how much smoke is getting past the pistons,there a limited amount that the breather can take before the rest gets into the engine bay,then into the car.

[Neil MG]

Winding down the windows reduces pressure in the car and draws in the fumes. Are you sure it's exhaust and not petrol fumes? Any weeping fuel will cause strong vapors and obviously would need to be fixed pretty soon!

[Arthurdaily]

Hi, thank you - it is actually sorted now! I purchased an even longer pipe today and fitted it to the exhaust, the fumes have now disappeared! Thanks for all your help though, it has been a trial!

[LouiseM]

I don't understand how the fumes weren't there when you got the car, didn't appear when you fitted a new back door but suddenly appeared just a few weeks ago despite no work being done to the exhaust but glad you have now sorted the problem out!

[David53]

Glad you have it sorted! I was fairly sure it would be the tailpipe - on a traveller the air runs underneath and swirls up behind the back doors as you drive along. If the exhaust pipe doesnt extend well past the bumper it gets sucked in through the back doors. Well done!

[Arthurdaily]

I don't understand it either - hence my posts on here, but thankfully it has gone now - thanks for all your help

[bmcecosse]

Easy answer is to drive with one of the rear sliding windows slightly open at the rear - weather permitting. But most 'acrid' smells are from the engine crankcase breathers- - make sure they are fed into the carb so the engine burns it's own fumes.