Bad smell

[GTP 044]

Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me. I've got a 2004 XR8 auto with 19,000kms on it, when you give her a bootfull and then stop I am getting a really bad egg smell from the exhaust. Does this mean she's out of tune or is this normal? Thanks in advance.

[XAGSV8]

Egg smell is unleaded petrol after it has been burnt through the engine. You don't have an exhaust leak do you?

[ltd]

I thought it had more to do with enrichment and partially unburnt fuel passing through the catalytic converter in the exhaust. Normally the cat takes care of the smell but when you force enough pressure through it it is unable to deal with such a large volume so quickly. It is normal and you'll find after about 2 or so minutes of less spirited driving the exhaust smell should return to normal. I have the same with all my vehicles when you give it a bit.

[MO]

Thats the carcinogens from the unleaded coming to give you cancer...I'm serious!!!!!!

[MYVYSS]

As stated above or you have a problem with your Cats, get it checked its normally the smell the EPA and or Law Enforcement looks for just before they fine you the 10k for gutted cats

[GT-E]

The smell is Sulphur Dioxide (egg gas) and ltd is right, its caused by your cat not able to process all the gass flowing through it.
You should not be able to smell it unless you have a exhaust leak or there is a bad boot seal that is allowing exhaust back into the cabin through the boot.
Either way it is not good and should be checked out as another product of exhaust is carbon monoxide, it is colourless and smelless and will kill you.

[LOWAU]

Try running premium fuel instead of regular.

It worked for me, but I drive an AU 6cyl.

[zetec]

The exact smell I had the week my cat died. New cat = no more smell.

[gtfpv]

yep catalytic convertors on thier way out . next will be the rattle . .

[pauljh74]

Sounds like Hyundai-itis. My Mum's Excel did the same - took it to the dealer and was told this was "normal". Aussie fuel is supposedly higher in Sulphur content, so cars like the Hyundai have cats that aren't quite up to the job it seems. But you wouldn't expect it from a Falcon - especially one so new. Probably is a case of the cats having a problem, get it checked

[GTP 044]

Thanks for that guys, will get it checked out.

[GRNKPR]

could be from EXECJIM he dosnt shower that often!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LOWAU]

No it shouldn't be the cat because I changed it when getting a full exaust and still got the smell, not as bad thou.

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by zetec

The exact smell I had the week my cat died. New cat = no more smell.

Exactly, one of the signs of a dieing Cat convertor is the egg smell.

[Bobman]

All BA Falcon's have an eggy / weird smell even when driven moderately to normal...

Have seen this from *every* BA I've been behind, including my own.

[EASYBOSS]

My 2003 Mk1 BA EX8 has had the same severe bad smell about 6 months ago, and did not know what it was. I use 91 (company car) from any gas station and always leave it until the tank empty to fill ,as I hate the waste of time filling up. The smell was always after a bit of stick. The BA was also serviced during the period of the smell, with no difference. For no apparent reason the smell has gone, I have no reason why and can only put it down to the gas/mix of fules at the time.

[Mack 6]

I have the same rotten egg smell coming from me as well. The funny thing is I don't have a cat. The parents have one, and the missus has one. Could this be the cause?
It's really embarrassing at parties and in elevators.
I really hope that neither cats die, both parties would be distraught.






I cant believe I'm the first to make fun of an egg smell thread!!

[Thunder]

My old ED falcon made the same smell when ever i gave it a flogging! i thought it was normal for unleaded cars to smell that way when they are given a thrashing.

[ltd]

red, does the gas smell normal after a couple of minutes normal driving?
If it does, then there are no problems; refer to my earlier post above about enrichment. You'll also find at the same time that you give it a bit you'll get what appears to be a little black/grey smoke coming out of the exhaust. This is perfectly normal and is a little particulate from the over rich mixture that occurs when you flog it. Not all of the fuel is burnt properly under rich conditions and as such the cat cannot ensure all unburnt fuel is treated within the cat due to the above average amount of air flowing through it.

[GTP 320]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

yep catalytic convertors on thier way out . next will be the rattle . .

What rattle are you talking about ?
Cheers John

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by GTP 320

What rattle are you talking about ?
Cheers John

catalytic convertors have a honeycomb mesh plate inside them they get red hot with normal operation. that is how they burn off the unburnt fuel causing less pollution out of the exhaust system . sometimes when they go the mesh parcially dissintegrates and rattles around inside. added edit . i haven't actually seen inside one have just been told this is what can happen . and i have heard them rattle.

[GTP 044]

LTD, What u are describing is what happens spot on. Hopefully it means all is ok then. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

[Xr_pshhh]

i have also noticed this smell on my other car. If i use for instence safeway fuel, it stinks after some stick, but if i put some optimax in it, the smell isnt evident.

[ltd]

Optimax is refined longer and as such the final cut from the crude has a lower sulphur content than the normal unleaded fuel. Additionally, the higher octane optimax actually burns more evenly in the combustion chamber, and results in less unburnt fuel being sent through the catalytic convertor, meaning it has less unburnt fuel to deal with than the same throttle position and with normal unleaded.

Finally, Malaysia, where a lot of our fuel particularly regular unleaded is refined uses bent crude as well as middle eastern crude for refining - which has a higher sulphur content than the light sweet crude we have in Australia. In Australia, we blend a mixture of crudes to obtain the maximum yield from the cut; as light sweet crude has too low a yield for petroleum products (ie, not that suitable for lubricating oil) when compared to say texan sour crude. Shell do refine optimax here and as such they are using heavy crude with a high sulphur content, blended with light sweet crude with a low sulphur content. The result is, less sulphur in locally refined fuels.

[Thunder]

Yarda yarda yarda.....i can think of some other "deadly" things that smell like off eggs....... :

[Bobman]

Optimax has a very *high* level of sulphur...
Can't wait for Ultimate to come back

[ltd]

What do you mean?

[PhatBat]

Originally Posted by John McMaster

Thats the carcinogens from the unleaded coming to give you cancer...I'm serious!!!!!!

That is true but geez.....you could have put it more delicate.

Senario

Dr John McMaster: Hi patient....having a great day?
Patient: Yes....thanks fer askin'.... :hihi:
Dr John McMaster: Good...Good.......Oh yeah one thing before I forget....you got cancer. :

I'm just takin the pi$$ out of you cause it just sounded so funny the way you put it.

Cheers

[MO]

Originally Posted by PhatBat

That is true but geez.....you could have put it more delicate.

Senario

Dr John McMaster: Hi patient....having a great day?
Patient: Yes....thanks fer askin'.... :hihi:
Dr John McMaster: Good...Good.......Oh yeah one thing before I forget....you got cancer. :

I'm just takin the pi$$ out of you cause it just sounded so funny the way you put it.

Cheers

LOL....