Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

My wife says I "smell" like a car when I return from driving my elan. She says its as if I had been working on it instead of driving it (insert joke here). Anyway I was wondering if installing an Air/Oil separator would have any effect on that "just changed the oil fragrance "? Some sites seem to suggest they help? Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

"All my men wear -English Motorcar- or they wear nothing at all." Ask her if she would prefer you wear jodhpurs and smell of horse?

I am not sure if it is standard, but my elan has a length of foam strip at the point the bonnet closes, the width of the car in front of the screen. I had originally thought it was to prevent rattles, but I was told long ago it was to prevent smelly air bleeding out the back of the bonnet and getting drawn into the heater air intake. Not sure if that is true or not.

The other place to check are the many holes in the 'firewall' between the engine and body to see if the grommets are intact (or are there at all). Worst offenders seem to be the steering column and the handbrake cable holes.

+1 for the grommets in the firewall. I had exactly this issue and blocking all the various holes made a huge improvement.

Best
Steve

My wife tells me she likes "Eau de Twincam"

USA64 wrote:"All my men wear -English Motorcar- or they wear nothing at all." Ask her if she would prefer you wear jodhpurs and smell of horse?

lol

I will go over the firewall and the grommets and make sure they are all in tact. Thanks again for everyones help!

I had the same eau de TC. Closed the garage door, switch-off the lights, lamp in the foot well and had a beautiful starry night by van gogh in the engine bay.

Change the wife?

Try to imagine the eau de twin cam smell if you use castrol R 40 as I do.....my wife loves but 10 first years of live in a race bike workshop.....(really)
Roger