Fumes in car

Author
Discussion

Magpie179

Original Poster:

9 posts

5 months

Sunday 16th February
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So couple of months ago purchased a used ds4 1.6hdi car runs fine no surging starts first time no funny sounds or misfire only thing my wife has mentioned that she can smell exhaust fumes in the car more so when stood still in traffic.

I've had someone Jack it up was able to get underneath check
Exhaust no gases seem to be leaking anywhere clamps look ok put a rag over the end of the exhaust again didn't seen any gases escaping open bonnet while it's running can smell it slightly but every now and then can't see smoke or gases.

Reading up and there is a mention of injector washer seal leaking so either needs tightening or replacing or a failed injector is there anything I can do to check for this I have limited knowledge of but willing to give it a go before I take it in again no fault codes car runs fine mpg getting around 49 so seems ok there.
Many thanks


LivLL

11,590 posts

212 months

Sunday 16th February
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How's the boot seal condition?

GreenV8S

30,857 posts

299 months

Sunday 16th February
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Magpie179 said:
I have limited knowledge of but willing to give it a go before I take it in
If it's just exhaust fumes getting into the cabin, there's no problem investigating that yourself. The symptoms you describe sound more like a petrol leak, to me. That's far more dangerous and not something you should be investigating unless you're very confident about your ability to dismantle and reinstall parts of the fuel injection system, and comfortable dealing with the obvious fire risk if you make any mistakes.

bimsb6

8,426 posts

236 months

Sunday 16th February
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GreenV8S said:
Magpie179 said:
I have limited knowledge of but willing to give it a go before I take it in
If it's just exhaust fumes getting into the cabin, there's no problem investigating that yourself. The symptoms you describe sound more like a petrol leak, to me. That's far more dangerous and not something you should be investigating unless you're very confident about your ability to dismantle and reinstall parts of the fuel injection system, and comfortable dealing with the obvious fire risk if you make any mistakes.
On a diesel ?

Athlon

5,449 posts

221 months

Sunday 16th February
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Injector leak is common, lift the black plastic cover on the engine and look for black gunk around the injectors, also listen carefully when the engine is idling and you might hear an injector chuffing

stevemcs

9,444 posts

108 months

Sunday 16th February
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As above, injector seals, the copper washer fails and it melts the plastic spacer.

Bonefish Blues

31,880 posts

238 months

Sunday 16th February
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Another vote for injector seals. Just had ours fixed.

GreenV8S

30,857 posts

299 months

Sunday 16th February
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bimsb6 said:
On a diesel ?
Well, no, not on a diesel.

I'll get me coat.

E-bmw

11,050 posts

167 months

Monday 17th February
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Athlon said:
Injector leak is common, lift the black plastic cover on the engine and look for black gunk around the injectors, also listen carefully when the engine is idling and you might hear an injector chuffing
stevemcs said:
As above, injector seals, the copper washer fails and it melts the plastic spacer.
Bonefish Blues said:
Another vote for injector seals. Just had ours fixed.
^^^^ Wot 'e (they) said.

Had it on my v40 d2, which uses the same engine.

Mine was also only barely noticeable when at the lights after a few mins of running.

Because mine was so slight, there were no visible or audible signs, so I mixed up a squirty bottle of water/washing up liquid, squirted it in the gap between the injector & its surrounding metal & watched for the resultant bubbles to form.

Don't just be tempted to tighten it up as the seat will need to be properly cleaned/recut for the new washer to do it's job.

Magpies666

2 posts

5 months

Monday 17th February
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Sorry I've had to make another account up as tried to reply last night and all I kept getting was you can't post for 24hrs for spam reasons?

Yeah I'll try have a look at it then as I mentioned when I looked last time didn't hear or see anything in terms of smoke or the chuffing sound.

I'll take some pic see if anyone can get me any insight but car runs fine it's just this smell of exhaust gases it's horrible I did think about changing the pollen filter at some point as well

E-bmw

11,050 posts

167 months

Monday 17th February
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The car will run just fine, but as it is exhaust fumes coming into the cabin, you really need it sorted out for health purposes.

Magpies666

2 posts

5 months

Monday 17th February
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Yeah definitely I'm in work tonight so I'll take it in and have a look as I'll get some free time see if I can see anything

Richard-D

1,468 posts

79 months

Monday 17th February
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It sounds like that engine has a known issue for this so the the posters above have likely pointed you in the right direction. If the injections aren't leaking have you checked for oil leaks? Oil dripping onto the exhaust could also cause fumes that are more prevalent when stationary.

Magpie179

Original Poster:

9 posts

5 months

Monday 17th February
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When i checked underneath couldn't see any oil leak and isn't any oil on the drive I've had a oil leak on a zafira before and the smell was different this literally smells like you've hook up
The exhaust and had it come through the window and fans

Can oil dripping onto say manifold or something hot give off the same smell as exhaust fumes

Magpie179

Original Poster:

9 posts

5 months

Monday 17th February
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Sorry just to possibly rule out boot seals when fans on if it's set to Recirculation can't smell gases at all if it was the boot seals wouldn't I smell it still regardless

paul_c123

804 posts

8 months

Monday 17th February
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An injector seal is normally very obvious on a diesel - it "goes" then there's a plume/cloud of diesel fine spray from the top of the engine which shoots upwards, corresponding with a noise and the rough running on 3 cylinders.

I wonder if it could be an oil leak, and the fumes are making their way into the cabin? If its leaking, then onto an exhaust and smoking, it may not leave a puddle of oil.

E-bmw

11,050 posts

167 months

Monday 17th February
quotequote all
paul_c123 said:
An injector seal is normally very obvious on a diesel - it "goes" then there's a plume/cloud of diesel fine spray from the top of the engine which shoots upwards, corresponding with a noise and the rough running on 3 cylinders.
Not that dramatic on these engines, there is no significant noise/spray/cloud & does not result in "rough running" just (as the OP describes) a smell of diesel fumes in the cabin.

Magpie179

Original Poster:

9 posts

5 months

Monday 17th February
quotequote all
Yeah might have to look into that as well then no issue with car running im at work now so I'll try and have a look later while the cars running and look and see if I can see any smoke from the injector.

LivLL

11,590 posts

212 months

Monday 17th February
quotequote all
Magpie179 said:
Sorry just to possibly rule out boot seals when fans on if it's set to Recirculation can't smell gases at all if it was the boot seals wouldn't I smell it still regardless
Ta for considering anyway, hope you get it sorted.

balham123

83 posts

14 months

Monday 17th February
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Could just be the air con sucking in fumes from.the car in front. Especially if it doesn't do it when you have recirculation on.