Odd smell

[Rick1956]

I have had an odd smell that appears every now and again whilst driving.
It smells much the same as washer bottle addative.
It comes without any pattern, some times engine warm sometimes cold. no leak from the washer system (or anywhere else) in fact I have intentionally filled it with an odourless liquid just to make sure and the smell will turn up without using the washers as well for days.
Any ideas?

 

[jace]

could it be antifreeze? or something to do with aircon they develope funny smells

 

[rustic]

I have had an odd smell that appears every now and again whilst driving.
It smells much the same as washer bottle addative.
It comes without any pattern, some times engine warm sometimes cold. no leak from the washer system (or anywhere else) in fact I have intentionally filled it with an odourless liquid just to make sure and the smell will turn up without using the washers as well for days.
Any ideas?

My Mav developed a bad eggs smell, (hydrogen Sulphide) I tracked it down to the washer fluid, it had bacteria in it. This was a bad whiff now and again... (My Mav doesn't have aircon or a pollen filter).
I drained it, flushed it then put some bleach in it, but I disconnected the jets first, flushed it again and all became clear. Watch you don't get bleach on the paintwork, have a hosepipe ready just in case, not sure what damage the bleach could do to the paintwork?
Worth checking...

 

[Rick1956]

Jace.
You mention aircon, does the gas from this smell similar, my aircon is not the best in output so i,m wondering if I have a small leak?

 

[jace]

ive never had it happen but it s one reasons to run air con in winter think its bacteria again,you could of course tell the mrs to lay off the beans lol

 

[Rick1956]

Wouldnt dare, cant run very fast anymore :smile:

 

[jims-terrano]

Only smells I've ever had from aircon is grandpa's pants when the AC hasn't been run for a few days.
Could be Antifreeze that you can smell, the water pump develops a small leak. As the leak gets worse you will get a small puddle in the centre at the front on the floor.

Jim T

 

[jace]

anti freeze is a swet smell and very atractive to dogs who will drink it so be carefull if you have pets

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

Im with jim perhpas anti freeze an occasional drip, when the fan cuts in blowing it around the engine bay?

 

[Rick1956]

Its a new pump fitted last summer and dry as a bone, and doesnt need topping up at least for the last six months anyway. :?:

 

[jace]

kids havent dropped some fruit or something under one seats that s going bit manky giving sweet odour fruit does?

 

[Rick1956]

Kids flew the nest a few years ago :lol: so I reckon thats ones out of the question :?:

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

a few years ago (well OK quite a few :lol: ) I used to share a flat with a very attractive young lady, the oldish man downstairs was allways coming up and moaning about the noise, what noise? I use to say.

Turned out he had tinitus and it was all, literally, in his head, so have you had your nose tested recently? :lol: :lol:

but seriously if it smeels like washer fluid thats a good place to start check the pipes for leaks etc.

 

[JonathanM]

I have had an odd smell that appears every now and again whilst driving.
It smells much the same as washer bottle addative.
It comes without any pattern, some times engine warm sometimes cold. no leak from the washer system (or anywhere else) in fact I have intentionally filled it with an odourless liquid just to make sure and the smell will turn up without using the washers as well for days.
Any ideas?

Any chance that it could be diesel?

My wagon regularly splits the fuel leak off hosing that runs between the injectors, and it does seem that when this has happened if I don't see it under the bonnet I'll get occasional whiffs of what seems like quite a sweet smell as the diesel heats up & off the engine.

Easyish job to do, but it does need the intercooler to come off to access all of the pipes. Look on the drivers side of the engine around the injectors, any signs of wetness around the injectors or on the block and tis could be your problem. Last time my pipe leaked it had gone down the back of the engine and induced a bit of a slipping clutch!

 

[Rick1956]

JonathanM
Thanks for the suggestion, I will have a good look in the morning, I thought that maybe I was imagining things but at least I have something to work on now, who knows?