Strong smell from front
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 141
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From: San Diego CA
Strong smell from front
Hi everyone.....I really owe you guys some pics of my LT4. Its a great condition, torch red coupe that I bought in Sept 08. Mileage is 85k and its completely stock.
Question: When I park, there is a smell of some kind from the front end. Its not fresh fuel and it doesn't really smell like exhaust or like a malfunctioning cat conv, but its very obvious and I generally have to air out the garage a bit. The smell goes away overnight once the car cools. It also might be a bit more pronounced after a short drive vs. longer ride. I was thinking it might be old oil burning off or something. What do you guys think? I poked around the threads a bit, but couldn't find reported issues that were an obvious match.
Thanks.
Question: When I park, there is a smell of some kind from the front end. Its not fresh fuel and it doesn't really smell like exhaust or like a malfunctioning cat conv, but its very obvious and I generally have to air out the garage a bit. The smell goes away overnight once the car cools. It also might be a bit more pronounced after a short drive vs. longer ride. I was thinking it might be old oil burning off or something. What do you guys think? I poked around the threads a bit, but couldn't find reported issues that were an obvious match.
Thanks.
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Could it be coolant? A leaky radiator maybe?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: sw Ohio
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: San Diego CA
It doesn't really smell like burnt rubber. I don't know how to describe it, but there's definitely an oil or chemical-type smell. Would coolant just have the typical evaporation smell?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Coolant has kind of a sweet-sickly smell. If it was oil, I'm sure you could tell what that smells like. How are the coolant/oil levels? If they are low, that could be your problem.
Does it get stronger if you open the hood?
Does it get stronger if you open the hood?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: San Diego CA
So its not coolant. Its also definitely not the typical oil smell, but I'm not sure if it isn't burnt oil....what does that smell like? Is it a heavy chemical-type smell? I checked the oil level recently and didn't notice it down. I'll check the coolant. If it were exhaust, would it just smell like typical tail pipe exhaust?
When I smelled it initially, I thought maybe it was just old burnt oil that had accumulated as a result of years of changes or from a leak that was fixed. It smells a bit stronger if I open the hood, but I generally smell it as much from under the wheel wells.
When I smelled it initially, I thought maybe it was just old burnt oil that had accumulated as a result of years of changes or from a leak that was fixed. It smells a bit stronger if I open the hood, but I generally smell it as much from under the wheel wells.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: San Diego CA
Brought the car down to Larry at The Corvette Shop here in San Diego. He tested the PCV and it was working fine. Being that we were outside, he couldn't really detect the smell. He checked for oil and gas leaks, problems with the fuses and didn't find anything. Man...this is rough. The car stinks in my garage, but nothing seems to be obviously wrong
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: San Diego CA
I had some cat converter problems with a 240sx I used to own. Its definitely not that smell. Best I can describe it is it being a heavy burnt plastic or oil-type smell. Like I said, Larry at The Corvette Shop couldn't even detect the smell when we were outside with the hood open. Its something that accumulates in my garage pretty quickly after I park it, but goes away once the car gets cool and I air out the garage.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
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are you sure it is not coolant?
Coolant smells like nothing else. I can pick it out right away.
if you dont know, I would almost say take a little burn it off.
if it is in fact a plastic smell... throwing out some ideas.
Could you have something melted on to the cat?
BTW, where is this corvette shop?
Coolant smells like nothing else. I can pick it out right away.
if you dont know, I would almost say take a little burn it off.
if it is in fact a plastic smell... throwing out some ideas.
Could you have something melted on to the cat?
BTW, where is this corvette shop?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: San Diego CA
I'm not certain, but to me, coolant has a much sweeter smell. Maybe I'll try having Larry put the car up on the lift so we can look around (re cat comment). The only reason I said plastic is because the smell is very chemical-like. I thought maybe some petroleum derived stuff in the plastic was what I am smelling. I still contend its some sort of old oil smell though.
The Corvette Shop is in Kearny Mesa, right off 805. Its on Ruffner Rd behind the Infiniti dealer. I had never heard of it till yesterday. Before that I only knew of Dave Meyer down on El Cajon Blvd.
The Corvette Shop is in Kearny Mesa, right off 805. Its on Ruffner Rd behind the Infiniti dealer. I had never heard of it till yesterday. Before that I only knew of Dave Meyer down on El Cajon Blvd.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Sherwood, Arkansas
Its not a burnt clutch or brake pads smell is it? I know you said chemical smell but I am trying to throw some ideas out there too. That is strange, I wonder what this could possibly be? You didn't buy the car from Mythbusters did you? 
Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
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If something was burning off the engine or exhaust you would expect to see visible smoke, wouldn't you?
You say it happens after it gets good and hot and takes quite a while to dissipate. I would suggest starting the car up and letting it get good and hot without driving it. See if it still happens. The previous poster has a good idea with the brake pad suggestion. If that is the case then obviously nothing it going to happen with the car sitting still.
You say it happens after it gets good and hot and takes quite a while to dissipate. I would suggest starting the car up and letting it get good and hot without driving it. See if it still happens. The previous poster has a good idea with the brake pad suggestion. If that is the case then obviously nothing it going to happen with the car sitting still.
