Strong, persistent odor
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: FL
Strong, persistent odor
First off, merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate the holiday. This site and these forums have been a gift to me. Thanks.
I just took ownership of a 1980 L-82, with a 383 stroker motor in it. The interior of the car has the typical vintage car smell, but the outside continually gives off a very strong, somewhat offensive odor that is stinking up my garage. I opened the garage door a few times in the hopes of airing it out, but it remains.
I don't do mechanicals myself, so I don't know if this is normal for a car of its age, or an indicator of something worse. I looked underneath and see no leaks.
She's due to a trip to my mechanic to fix the exhaust leak at the header flange, and a few other things that I knew about before I made the purchase.
Is this normal for old cars?
I just took ownership of a 1980 L-82, with a 383 stroker motor in it. The interior of the car has the typical vintage car smell, but the outside continually gives off a very strong, somewhat offensive odor that is stinking up my garage. I opened the garage door a few times in the hopes of airing it out, but it remains.
I don't do mechanicals myself, so I don't know if this is normal for a car of its age, or an indicator of something worse. I looked underneath and see no leaks.
She's due to a trip to my mechanic to fix the exhaust leak at the header flange, and a few other things that I knew about before I made the purchase.
Is this normal for old cars?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 366
Likes: 109
What does it smell like? A gas leak can be too small to notice but still smell. If you just bought it and it was recently painted it could still be curing and off gassing. Or you might have a bad catalytic converter if it smells sort of like sulfer, just a few suggestions. You also could have a small dead animal caught under the front or underneath? yuck but I have seen it more than once. It's NOT normal.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2022
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From: Wisconsin
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My vette stinks up my garage too, it smells like gas,gear oil and horsepower..... I love it.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: FL
The car wasn't painted recently, and I'm familiar with that scent and it isn't that. I would guess that the odor is coming from the engine bay, but not from a trapped, dead animal. It's not *that* offensive. Could it be that fluids leaked on a hot engine and the motor somehow absorbed the odors? I can't really describe what the smell is exactly like, but maybe like burnt oil?
You can see the report from Lemonsquad at the following link (which doesn't require registration or anything). Maybe taking a look at the engine photos might give some idea? It's kinda ugly in there (there are only a few photos of the motor, and you have to scroll past numerous pics before you get to them). Overall the report from LS was good, no major problems:
https://lemonsquad.com/customer/view...3aa6f9b1e3a157
You can see the report from Lemonsquad at the following link (which doesn't require registration or anything). Maybe taking a look at the engine photos might give some idea? It's kinda ugly in there (there are only a few photos of the motor, and you have to scroll past numerous pics before you get to them). Overall the report from LS was good, no major problems:
https://lemonsquad.com/customer/view...3aa6f9b1e3a157
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,135
Likes: 4,244
From: US-PNW
I would guess that the odor is coming from the engine bay, but not from a trapped, dead animal. It's not *that* offensive. Could it be that fluids leaked on a hot engine and the motor somehow absorbed the odors? I can't really describe what the smell is exactly like, but maybe like burnt oil?
So a burnt oil smell sounds like it's a petrochemical sort of smell but not gas or electrical (acrid) or animal (putrid) or antifreeze (sweet) or auto trans (burnt toast). The block isn't going to absorb much of anything. It could be coming from the exhaust. Does anything look like it's been resting/melted on the exhaust manifolds or pipes? Make sure nothing is currently touching. If it's something like this, I'd recommend a long road trip where the engine and exhaust get to full temp for a period of time. If something is melted to a manifold or pipe, it should burn off.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: FL
I haven't taken a good, long look at the engine bay, but I took her out for a few minutes last Tuesday, and while stopped at a red light, began to feel woozy from the exhaust leak. Of course, I opened the windows to limit exposure but now I'm afraid as hell to drive it anywhere. I plan to have AAA flatbed it to my mechanic, so I'll get to know everything after that. But to your points, yeah, I'd say the smell is petrochemical in nature.
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,135
Likes: 4,244
From: US-PNW
I haven't taken a good, long look at the engine bay, but I took her out for a few minutes last Tuesday, and while stopped at a red light, began to feel woozy from the exhaust leak. Of course, I opened the windows to limit exposure but now I'm afraid as hell to drive it anywhere. I plan to have AAA flatbed it to my mechanic, so I'll get to know everything after that. But to your points, yeah, I'd say the smell is petrochemical in nature.
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1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
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From: US-PNW
While your mechanic is fixing the leak ask him to see if he can ID the smell or track it down. Let us know how it turns out.
How much have you driven the car since you got it?
While I understand your concerns for getting gassed, I'd say drive it to your mechanic's shop with the windows down. You won't be at much risk doing that.
How much understanding do you feel you have for engine operation and proper tune?
(It's OK to say little to none - it just helps us know how deeply to explain when replying.)
How much have you driven the car since you got it?
While I understand your concerns for getting gassed, I'd say drive it to your mechanic's shop with the windows down. You won't be at much risk doing that.
How much understanding do you feel you have for engine operation and proper tune?
(It's OK to say little to none - it just helps us know how deeply to explain when replying.)
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: FL
I only drove it a few miles around town (no highway) to get the VIN inspected and notarized. I get ya, about driving it myself with the windows down, but I tell you, feeling lightheaded while on the road scared the crap out of me. I'll consider your suggestion, though.
I haven't turned a wrench on a car since I was a teenager, and that was quiiiiite some time ago, so my understanding for proper tune is very little at this point. My cousin and I used to try to tune up my dad's Pontiac Catalina, with a fair degree of success. Mostly I stick to the simple stuff, like changing parts that require just the basic set of tools. It's been a long time and I've forgotten most of what I learned back in the day, unfortunately. Even with YouTube videos, I wouldn't even try to do any work like steering or brakes, to give just 2 examples.
I haven't turned a wrench on a car since I was a teenager, and that was quiiiiite some time ago, so my understanding for proper tune is very little at this point. My cousin and I used to try to tune up my dad's Pontiac Catalina, with a fair degree of success. Mostly I stick to the simple stuff, like changing parts that require just the basic set of tools. It's been a long time and I've forgotten most of what I learned back in the day, unfortunately. Even with YouTube videos, I wouldn't even try to do any work like steering or brakes, to give just 2 examples.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
Likes: 346
From: Smyrna, TN
When I hear leak and smell, I think of something burning...
Sounds like some type of oil on a hot exhaust...
Trans fluid, coolant, engine oil?
My other guess would be a recent header paint job?
Engine paint overspray on the exhaust manifolds?
Could also be over spray on the exhaust from a recent undercoat job.
Sounds like some type of oil on a hot exhaust...
Trans fluid, coolant, engine oil?
My other guess would be a recent header paint job?
Engine paint overspray on the exhaust manifolds?
Could also be over spray on the exhaust from a recent undercoat job.
Last edited by n2h2o2; Dec 25, 2023 at 06:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 4
From: FL
That's the thing, though. The engine hasn't run for a week now. The smell is just always *there*. This wasn't bad when I had my C4 (a 96) in the garage. Aside from age, what could make the difference? As soon as you walk into the garage, boom, it hits you.
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
A dead animal of some sort tucked up inside some nook comes to mind.
I have a 77 model. It's kept in a very small one car garage that shares the laundry. If my car stunk even a little bit that crazy woman that lives in my house would most certainly notify me! Damn she has a nose!
So, no. Old age of the car is most certainly not the cause.
Mouldy smell???
Yes this is tough over the net.
But it's NOT the age of the car.
I have a 77 model. It's kept in a very small one car garage that shares the laundry. If my car stunk even a little bit that crazy woman that lives in my house would most certainly notify me! Damn she has a nose!
So, no. Old age of the car is most certainly not the cause.
Mouldy smell???
Yes this is tough over the net.
But it's NOT the age of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
About 18 years ago I found a nest that mice had built in the seatbelt anchor well under the passengers seat. The various odds and ends they used to construct the nest held moisture, this with the old mouse droppings did leave a bad smell. Not a dead animal smell, but also not nice. The moist nest also promoted corrosion in that seatbelt retractor well. Causing me to cut it out and weld in a new floor and reinforced anchor mount for the seatbelt. Those critters can leave behind bad things even after they are long gone!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,363
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From: los altos hills california
Probably not the cause but have a look inside the windshield washer well to either side of the firewall. I had some 40 years of pine needles there in my 69 so smell was not an issue but who knows what you have there? That air vents to the inside of a car unless things are majorly plugged up. And .... I don't know if an 80 is at all similar to a 69 but that year has no screen.
