Smell of combustion/ Fuel/oil etc inside car

Smell of combustion/ Fuel/oil etc inside car

Author
Discussion

JulesBliss

Original Poster:

1,147 posts

164 months

Sunday 6th May 2012
quotequote all
Hi all

Hard to describe, but the interior of my car definitely has a smell of combustion or something. Smells like a go kart pretty much!

im just wondering if this is normal or something i should be looking into

Its definitely more evident after driving enthusiastically...

R0162

2,435 posts

171 months

Sunday 6th May 2012
quotequote all
the air from the engine gets sucked into the cabin from the tunnel.

I did the tunnel cooling mod and did not realise until driving with tunnel cver off that it was not working, hot air was still coming in from engine, i found the reason was due to using too much of a thick mesh in front of the scoops and it was blocking airflow.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Sunday 6th May 2012
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Hi Jules great you have the car back !!!
Had you got the window open when you were driving ???
Tux

JulesBliss

Original Poster:

1,147 posts

164 months

Sunday 6th May 2012
quotequote all
Yeah, but i always seem to drive with the windows open!

It has been an issue since i bought the car. It did get to the point where the front manifold was leaking, but that is all ok now

My car does have the tunnel mod done as well. Makes a difference to temp. But still get out smelling like an engine!

simonx50

818 posts

167 months

Monday 7th May 2012
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My car used to be like that! But since doing the tunnel mod/exhaust/fuel pipes doesn't smell at all.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Monday 7th May 2012
quotequote all
Hi Jules , pretty normal I think mine does the same , it did settle down after a few miles , pretty sure it's air coming into the cockpit from the tunnel , will not do it with the windows up . Tux

R0162

2,435 posts

171 months

Monday 7th May 2012
quotequote all
i found that the tunnel cooling does work, but some air can still come through frm the engine when the windows are open,at certain speeds it just tends to get mixed more with air from the front, at higher speeds the air ram effect overpwers and stops air coming from the engine, this is also dependant on what gauge mesh you have infront of the scoops.
if you drive with tunnel cover removed, you can physically feel what is happening with the air in the tunnel via the handbrake and gearlever apertures, like i say my mod was not working at properly until i changed the mesh....air from the front was just mixing with air from engine bay inside the tunnel.

Without tunnel cooling the air is scorching in the tunnel, with tunnel cooling but airflow blocked by mesh the air will mix and still be warm, when its working properly the air will be cold.

Scooby P1

2,617 posts

236 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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Jules, mine smells. Sometimes i wonder if on long journeys it has made me feel a bit woosy!

Especially if i havent drive it for a few weeks, when i open the door it smells like a very old fashioned car, stinks of fuel!

Must be a Noble quirk - mine has not had tunnel mod done, or the mods that SimonX50 mentioned.

951

614 posts

162 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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Mine has the tunnel mod and I don't get any smells, with or without the window open.

SwankBaton

763 posts

179 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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Scooby P1 said:
Jules, mine smells. Sometimes i wonder if on long journeys it has made me feel a bit woosy!
+1 Sames here! The fumes get to me.

R0162

2,435 posts

171 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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my guess is a small leak from the turbo return pipes..

ludoZ3

126 posts

204 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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I read that sometimes the overflow hose from gas tank can dislodge itself at the bottom end and that can lead to the fume to linger around the car

brappage

235 posts

151 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
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Been searching to see if anyone else has experienced the smell inside the cabin the way I do in the noble and came across this thread. The good lady complains of a sore head when we're out a run and I sometimes get it aswell! Definitely isn't a fuel smell, but like said above smells like a go kart type smell, just exhaust gas like. I've done the tunnel mod but have one of the louvered floor sections out at the moment. Any suggestions or anyone ever get to the bottom of this or find a fix?

Adrian W

14,413 posts

235 months

Sunday 20th March 2016
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Usually the fuel vent pipe been pushed above the plot and dripping onto the alloy floor, have a look and check it is poking through.

Jim O.

485 posts

204 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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You might want to check your exhaust system for leaks. The places where I'd start are the front manifold, the connections to the front turbo, and the slip joint between the front down pipe and the pipe that runs under the oil pan. I'd also pay special attention to the gaskets that go between the flanges on the exhaust system - the stock ones that I've seen are a composite material that crumbles fairly quickly. It's a good idea to replace them with a solid copper or aluminum gasket...

AMG Merc

11,954 posts

260 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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As above - fuel and exhaust. Also check the turbo pipes for oil leaks onto the exhaust manifiold (front) and box (rear) which will produce vapour when hot.

brappage

235 posts

151 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I'm fairly sure it isn't fuel. The overflow passes through the floor pan at the cill level and I've tightened the cap to make sure its not fuel vapour.

Looks like the exhaust might be the culprit. Its still the original exhaust albeit the manifolds were repaired before my ownership as I have the receipts for it in the folder I got. Will just bite the bullet and replace the exhaust and take it from there. Rules one thing out for starters.


cooch8c

23 posts

106 months

Monday 21st March 2016
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On my car one of the rubber plugs behind the gauge pannel ontop of the tunnel was missing. There should be two. One for the boost gauge and one for the heater cable. Just reach behind a feel for them. Or look up from the forward inspection plate.

Scooby P1

2,617 posts

236 months

Monday 21st March 2016
quotequote all
I haven't used my car in months. It sits under it's lovely soft cover indoors. When I go to check on it, life the cover off and open the door it smells of petrol. Quite like it. Smells like a classic old car.

It lives under cover with both windows open 3-4 inches. Makes no difference.

Can't be bothered to do anything about it, but it's not an exhaust type smell so maybe different to what's being experienced here.

Jbliss

Original Poster:

1,147 posts

164 months

Monday 21st March 2016
quotequote all
Bit of a thread revival... Makes me feel all sentimental and miss my Nob!

If its a combustion smell rather than fuel i would have a very good look for exhaust leaks. The smell of fuel and combustion was cured in the end on mine, but i changed so much it could have been a combination of things.

you mention the manifolds were replaced. How long ago was that? was it before they made the better versions? could be worth checking them as well.