Troubleshooting Car Problems Strong Exhaust Odor

Experiencing the smell of exhaust fumes inside the passenger compartment of an automobile, beyond being a nauseating situation, is a serious and potentially lethal one. The problem is, it’s not what you do smell that presents a danger, its the carbon monoxide (CO) you can’t smell that will kill you, and quite quickly. The problem, of course, can only be related to a leak somewhere in the exhaust system of the car, SUV or truck. If the leak is located between the exhaust ports of the engine heads and the catalytic converter, it presents the greatest risk, because CO is converted into carbon dioxide by the converter. Carbon dioxide build up poses a health risk too, but only at more concentrated levels and then, much more slowly. Both gases, however, when inhaled at elevated levels, will cause mental confusion and judgmental incapacity, so immediate action to remedy the situation should be taken at the first instance exhaust fumes are detected in the vehicle; and a worst case assumption is always the safest policy. Locating the leak may be a little more difficult. Usually a change in sound level will be heard if the leak is substantial, or maybe even a hissing sound. The way to find out is too inspect the vehicles exhaust system. A good place to start is under the hood where the exhaust manifold(s) are bolted to the heads. Look for cracks in the manifold(s) which will usually appear as a darker brownish crack line surrounded my a white or gray coloring, like somebody has spray painted the area. The next place to inspect for exhaust leakage is the flange between the manifold(s). In this case check for broken bolts as well as the characteristic whitish-gray deposits. If the manifold(s) and flange look good, an inspection of the tail pipe from that point working back to the catalytic converter would be the next step. This portion of the tail pipe is usually all welded together, but a U-clamp connecting two section of pipe is not out of the question. Again, inspect the welds and or U-clamp connections for tell-tail whitish-gray deposits, as well as for holes in the pipe caused by rust or perhaps even foreign object damage. The next part of the exhaust system to inspect is the catalytic converter. Use great caution when dealing with the catalytic converter because it will likely be hot enough to cause serious burns if the engine has been running. If the converter looks good, it’s time to move on in the inspection to the Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society