Exhaust Smell when Heater On

Good morning All....

My wife reports that when she turns the heater during her morning commute she smells 'fuel' or 'exhaust fumes' in the cabin. She said it gets to bad that she has to crack the windows to ventilate.

I drove the car around last night with the heater blowing and didn't smell a thing.

Any ideas? Could it be something that only happens when the car is started in the morning after sitting all night? It is not cold here in the mornings yet (mid 40's).

Feedback appreciated :)

It is possible that you have an exhaust leak that is opening up when the car sits and gets completely cold. If it is a fuel smell there is a possibility that there may be a fuel leak but that should be easy to find if you open the hood and start the car. Check all the fuel connections. You may also be able to find something in the form of smoke or vapor coming from the exhaust as well.

The other possibility is that the wind is blowing from the back of the car causing the odor to enter the car. Good Luck!

Thanks! I will check all of those things tonight as well as tomorrow morning when the engine is cold.

atchisbr, has the car been worked on lately? I'm only asking because I had to have my fuel pump replaced and the mechanic didn't get the hose on the fuel tank on right and leaked everytime I filled up and I could smell gas all the time...

PotIsYourFriend...

Thanks for the reply. No, the car has been trouble free (fingers crossed) for quite a while now...no trips to the doctor.

Any other ideas?

The M.D can diganose the prob..tell them to do a "cbc chem 7" and do a Physical. with the cbc chem.7, the lab can determine what is wrong.
In english....have a code scanner on it and se if everything is working fine.
Andrew RP.H

You know...i heard that a bad cat. could make this smell. Anybody heard this before?

You know...i heard that a bad cat. could make this smell. Anybody heard this before?



I could see that.. It does collect deposits then over time they combust.. Heck the exhaust can even smell like unburned gas too.......

That is also also true. I agree.