Engine fumes

1972super Commited Dubber

62 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 2 Jul 2003, 9:08 pm

#62523

I've recently noticed fumes which smell like CO2 in my car while driving. I'm concerned that carbon monoxide is somehow getting into my car, maybe through the heater. I have a new muffler and exhaust so what is causing this to happen?

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 2 Jul 2003, 9:32 pm

#62536

Check the rocker covers are not leaking oil onto the heater or exhaust 😎

EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

sikdub Wolfsburg Wizard

571 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Jul 2003, 10:28 pm

#62550

I had this problem, like really bad. It turned out that the exhaust pipe in the heater box had gotten a hole in it and was blowing the exhast air straight in through the heater. Bloody awful. I just got new heater boxes and the difference is excellent.
Steven

KruizinKombi Seriously Obsessed Cyber Dubber

3,493 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Jul 2003, 11:46 pm

#62567

Also check all the heater connections right back to the fan, and make sure the corrugated hoses are in good nick. 🙂

Kruizin Kol

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2003, 12:37 am

#62577

If you've just put a new exhaust and muffler on, I think the smell you notice is probably just the paint burning off the new parts. This happens even when you use hight-temp or pot-belly stove paint. It always burns off. Last time I painted mine, the burning smell lasted a week or so.

VW heaters always smell a bit enginey - it's one of their endearing characteristics. But does your heater actually smell like exhaust, or just hot engine?

You can't actually smell carbon monoxide - it's an odourless gas.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2003, 8:55 am

#62615

The other thing to check is the crap slip joint where your muffler joints the heater box. Pots 1 and 3
The BEST and ONLY way to properly fix it is with a flange kit.
You might have to have the motor out - certaily would want it on a hoist.
They put 2 flanges (like the size that joins pot 2 and 4) on and weld them in place. You use a gasket and bolt them together.
NO LEAKS
My heater is perfect after 20 years of owning the things.
If i had to list a mandatory modification inclusion to all motor rebuilds this would be it.
Costs peanuts but the pleaseure gained is immeasurable!

This is the way Porsche did it.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT WAY IN THE FIRST PLACE MR VW!!! 😠

Futue te ipsum!!!

jboy82 Seriously Crusin Dubber

105 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 3 Jul 2003, 10:13 am

#62625

Bottom line: if your car smells the same inside as it does behind the exhaust outside, then its a problem.
I had this problem with leaky internal piping in my heater boxes aswell, it just smelled like exhaust inside, especially when I blipped it.. I just replaced the boxes with ones in good nick. It was frickin hard with the engine still in!(that darn top exhaust flange nut!)

Josh.

1972super Commited Dubber

62 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 3 Jul 2003, 6:25 pm

#62739

Phil74Camper my heater smells like exhaust. I can smell it on my cloths and I sometimes get a sore throat from the fumes. :puke

What makes the situation worse is that my heater is permanently on. The wire connected to the right hand lever was too short, so it's on all the time. All I can do is close off the vents.

I realise you can't smell carbon monoxide that's why I'm worried it could be entering without me even knowing it.

Thanks guys for your tips. I think I'll pay for an expert to check it over and fix it. I'll let you know what the problem was.

:puke:puke

56astro Custom Title Time!

1,772 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2003, 8:09 pm

#62760

One of the problems with a leaking exhaust or heat exchangers is that carbon monoxide (CO) attaches itself to the haemoglobin (?) in your blood about 400 times more readily than oxygen.

But wait there's more

It's build-up is cumulative. So it may not get you today, or even next week. But sooner or later as the CO levels rise it may only take a short trip to the shops and WHAM, you're a gonna.

One method of treating it is in a hyperbaric chamber to dislodge the CO and replace it with oxygen.

VW car, VW engine ...... keepin it "real"
35MPG on 101.3kPa

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Jul 2003, 9:58 pm

#62803

1972super wrote:What makes the situation worse is that my heater is permanently on.

Open the back and remove the air hoses.
Seal up the to horns so you are no loosing air.
Put up with the cold until you can fix it properley

Futue te ipsum!!!

1972super Commited Dubber

62 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 4 Jul 2003, 9:25 am

#62907

I will definitely be doing that blue, I'll just have to put up with the cold, a safer option than being gased!:o

Beetles don't leak oil, they just leave their mark.

jboy82 Seriously Crusin Dubber

105 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 4 Jul 2003, 11:52 am

#62946

56astro wrote:One method of treating it is in a hyperbaric chamber to dislodge the CO and replace it with oxygen.

Or just drive a different car until the exhaust is fixed and wait till your body makes "sufficient" new red blood cells to "replace" the crook CO'd ones.

Cheers

PS. fire the "laser"