Nasty exhaust smell on an 89 240sx, i've searched the archives...

[lbrowne]

I jsut got my 240sx not too long ago, and well today I had it brought to my house (can't drive it because I don't have the plates on it yet)

When this car is running there is a very pronounced smell of exhaust.

Theres exhaust coming out of the tailpipes, so I don't think it s clogged catalytic converter. The exhaust is no different in colour or amount from normal, from what i can tell.

It almost smells like shes running rich, or something. It would almost make your eyes water if you were around it long enough.

Any ideas of what it could be? The one thing I'm chaulkin this up to is that the gas has been in the gas for over a year, plus the car has been siting for over a year. I'm going to run some new gas (shes now completely empty) with some fuel system cleaner in it and see if that helps.

But i know the previous owner said that one of the frustrations with the car was this exhaust smell, the other frustration was that it is rear wheel drive and she didn't like it for winter driving...why would you have bought it in the first place?!?!? oh well

[Aries]

it's possible the gas tank has rust in it...that could cause an odor when burning...

[Nismo_Freak]

Burning ferric flake (rust) can release a sulfuric smell or bond to a hydrocarbon to form hydrocarbonicsulfide (which stinks to all hell).

[lbrowne]

which would be a good way to get rid of this? Its a really strong exhaust smell. Theres gotta be some way of flushing it out

[Nismo_Freak]

Driving.... about the only way I would suggest. You can try to dump a canister of octane booster in to make it smell a bit better.

[kilipo4]

Burning ferric flake (rust) can release a sulfuric smell or bond to a hydrocarbon to form hydrocarbonicsulfide (which stinks to all hell).

Come on Alan, don't try to sound so smart. :rolleyes I went to highschool with you remember? Thank god that's over though.

[dankar]

Could be o2 sensor, dirty air filter,

check temp sensors and tps connections, they are prone to corrode, just clean them with fine sand paper. These are the simple things to do. If you dont know where these things are, get a shop manual from Autozone and do a little studying, it is a lot cheaper than a mechanic