87Woodcab

The exhaust on my 87 Cab started having a strong unusual smell a few months back, and my service guy said run a couple cans of injector cleaner. I have, and the smell has gotten stronger. With the top down I can still smell it inside the car. It's quite noxious!! Anybody have any idea why it smells like this, and why it is so strong inside the car?

Reiver

What is your oil consumption like....how old is your cat converter? Oil or fuel smell?

87Woodcab

I only have 56,000 on my 87 Cab, so there is no oil consumption to speak of. Don't know about the cat converter. That might be a possibility. I'd say it is definitely a fuel smell....but, I'd be guessing.

Reiver

Are you getting this from the exhaust or is it a fuel smell in the engine bay or front trunk area? Only when running?
Lots of things this could be but I'd def rule out any leaks prior to driving the car.
If you do your own work get under it, if not take it to your indy shop for a once over.

87Woodcab

It's not exactly a fuel/gas smell. It's more acrid, or caustic...almost sweet smelling. It only smells when the car is running. There is no leak. I put a large cardboard piece under the car for weeks, and nothing. Not even a drop from the seals or oil lines. I think you may be on to something w the cat converter.

theiceman

i would certainly consider the o2 sensor before throwing on a cat. its the O2 sensors Job to lean out the mixture . i cant say in your case what it is but i can tell you that rich mixtures tend to smell a lot .. unburned fuel and additives.

Hunt3R

I've heard the smell of the battery being fried as smelling "sweet", it doesn't have a sulfur-ish tinge to it eh? Like an egg? When the voltage regulator on the alternator goes bad it can overcharge the battery and boil it up (while running only).

87Woodcab

I'll check the batt compartment for signs of overboil, but I don't think that's what it is. I've smelled batteries while on chargers. I think it is fuel related. The o2 sensor will be the cheapest place to start. I talked to the service tech at Cooper Porsche in Tulsa, and he said that the 87s didn't offer much in the way of failure codes to help diagnose. "It could take us a lot of time to figure out the problem. It will be trial an error", he said. Arkansas and Oklahoma neither require emission testing, so there is no equipment around to see if its running rich. Looks like trial and error can run between $500 and $1700, but I can't live with that smell. Thanks to all the responders! Porsche owners are a great breed

theiceman

i would start with the basics, that are routine maintanance anyway ... makes sure youa re getting a complete burn, new plugs, see if there is any deposits on the old one, new air and fuel filter . O2 sensor , and even try changing the brand of gas you buy , anything to mix it up , Im going with bad o2 sensor though

awhenry

Has your gas mileage changed? Generally, when the O2 sensor goes bad, the system goes full rich and not only do you get the smell but your mileage goes to crap too. I only had it happen one time on a tow vehicle and mileage dropped by over 1/2 in very short time period.

theiceman

i was gonna mention that too but when I am in my 911 I have absolutely no idea what my gas Milage is .. I just get in , put gas in , and drive it ..

Ed Hughes

I'd vote for O2 sensor as well.

87Woodcab

Hunt3R wins the prize!!! The alternator was running at 18 amps, and was over cooking the battery. Only $780 to stop the smell

rusnak

?!!????!!????

*breathe*

??!!!@%**!!???

rusnak

Ok, I'm better now.

1) what does the battery have to do with exhaust smell?

2) how does one spend that kind of money on a voltage regulator, and battery?

3) Did you either (a) take it to the Stealer, or (b) have the whole trunk inside re-painted?