I've noticed that when my engine is cold and I start up my car it kinda stinks. Is this normal? Does anyone else have this smell when they first start their car?

 

does it smell like gasoline? I get that when I start my car to warm up in the morning. Only smell it if I'm out of the car or the window is open while I'm warming up....

 

I'm not really sure what it smells like. Just kinda stinks. I'm sure we are both smelling the same thing though.

 

Catalytic converter?

WayneTN

 

WayneTN,

Any clues on what that would smell like if it were the CAT converter. It's not a pure gas smell it's not burnt oil either.

 

the cat and exhaust can smell like a mix of rotten eggs(sulfur) on NEW cars, like under 500miles. and typicly it smells after youve driven, not on a cold car. but its possible on a cold start as well.

couldnt be the clutch since you havent used it, did you ever burn it bad that the smell could have just set into the interior? perhaps you only notice it at the beginning then it goes away. this would wear away in short time.

 

Poor quality gas can cause the converter to smell really bad. What kind & grade of gas have you been using??

Steve (k2we) Dobbs Ferry, NY

 

Nah, didn't burn my car bad. Followed breakin by the manual, have about 6500 miles on my car now.

k2we,
I've only used 93 Octane (Mobil or Exxon).

 

bring it in then, there arent any smells you should be getting at this point. tho you do have to be able to reproduce the smell for them; if you cant, dont waste your time.

 

well, for me there is no rotten egg smell... just smell like gasoline at the pump when I start it up in the morning... maybe my garage is too small and I'm smelling the exhaust...
Again, I only smell it if I step outside of the car

Same smell on my bimmer before... I just blame it on my super sense of smell.... didn't do much with it...

 

Yea, I'm pretty sure it's nothing to be worried about, same here, only if my windows are down or I step out of the car and especially if I walk behind the exhaust, that's when I smell it the most.

 

I would assume youd know this, but could it just be the smell of exhaust? it does have an odor of course... and it can be worse when the car is cold and the cats arent fully working yet.

 

I bet that's it. hehe I didn't know that.

 

Mine really smelled like melting plastic when I got it, and it still does sometimes.

 

perhaps some idiot got a bag caugt on the exhaust or something. it could have gotten caught while on the trailer or whatever. if you havent already, jack it up and check it out.

 

Yeah, maybe it's a bag containing a free copy of "The Run".

 

Its probably just unburnt gas in the exhaust system from the car sitting for a bit and the cats not working from being cold. If it only does it on a cold start, I'm sure its just that. That's nothing to worry about.

Check your fuel mileage and make sure there are no puddles under the car. I'm sure its not a problem.