Eau d'Engine in the Cabin

[Stevie-Heathie]

There's a definite "engine" smell in the cabin of my S3 dhc when driving. With the roof down it's "noticeable", but with the roof up my shirt smells like I'm a mechanic at the end of the 63 British Grand Prix.

It's not a Petrol smell, it's not an exhaust smell. It's the smell of a warm 1960s engine bay. I quite like it but the wife is not so keen.

It's not coming through the footwell flaps because they are closed and it's not coming from the windscreen demister vents - a hanky placed there smells fine at the end of a journey.

Any ideas? Missing gromet in the firewall somewhere? Coming up through gearstick orifice? Where to start investigating?

Cheers
Steve

[nmauduit]

possibly via the gearbox lever hole (is the rubber tight everywhere)?

[ken ob]

possibly via the gearbox lever hole (is the rubber tight everywhere)?

ooh matron !!

[Stevie-Heathie]

Gearbox lever gaiter looks fine, although I haven't removed the centre console trim.

I don't think it's coming via the boot. There is a Petrol smell in there, but that's not the same as the smell in the cabin.

Any other ideas folks?

[richardcox_lotus]

Wash bag and change of clothes.

Let's face it if it's a warm day you'll smell of the vinyl seats anyway.

Richard
'72 Sprint DHC that smells of the 70's

[lotusfan]

Have you got the rubber seal along the rear edge of the engine compartment that the rear edge of the bonnet seals onto? If it is not there you could get engine smells out of the engine compartment and into the heater air inlet just in front of the windscreen.

[nomad]

Eau d'Engine....


Kurt.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Hi there yes I do have the bonnet seal in place.

Any more ideas?

Thanks
Steve

[Spyder fan]

My +2 used to pop it's boot catch when going over bumps. We used to notice this happening straight away because we would immediately smell exhaust fumes in the cabin.

The positive pressure of the airflow over the car and the eddies created into a vortex making differential pressure at the back of the car would force the exhaust fumes into the car via the boot area and into the cabin if it wasn't sealed.

In other words check or change your boot seal.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks spyderfan. I don't *think* it's exhaust fumes but I do know my boot seal lets in the rain so I'll replace it and see if that helps the smell.

Best
Steve

[Spyder fan]

With the top down you are most likely not at risk of co poisoning, probably not even with the top up, but there's more than just carbon monoxide in the exhaust gases of a healthy twin cam. The positive and negative pressures will be very small in difference to normal atmosphere when you are driving, but over a few miles that will equal quite a lot of airflow with all the associated hydrocarbons mixed in. I think you should patent and bottle it. LOTUS 45.... SPLASH IT ALL OVER!.

[Grizzly]

Have you knocked the big grommet through on on the trans tunnel? (i think it's the Front Prop shaft inspection hole) it's covered by the carpet but it's easy to push through, i noticed with mine i was getting much more engine/gear box noise so i stuck in place with some PU glue.

Here is a picture i found on google (i don't know who's it is so i hope they don't mind me posting it)

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks Grizzly. I'll lift the carpet and have a butcher's.

[vstibbard]

Hi would check the following:
1. heater plenum drain, this has a rubber grommet that lets water flow out over the bell housing / gearbox casing. If perished or missing it would allow engine fumes into the cabin
2. Steering column rubber, this is behind a metal plate down by the brake master cylinder, if perished and split. this is a piece of rubber with hole that is a close fit onto the lower steering column
3. Grommet at the handbrake cable to handbrake assembly entry point which is to the right of the clutch mater cylinder, also check the various speedo cable grommets and wiring harness on passenger side
4. the grommets in the tunnel as already mentioned.

Cheers

V

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks V, I'll spend this afternoon rooting around .
Best
Steve