Bad smell during hard driving
 

2007 UK STi, engine rebuild 12k mls ago.

So, last time I went down to Goodwood with friends we had a spirited early morning drive in convoy (SLK 55 AMG vs Cayman vs Scooby). On occasion I noticed an unpleasant smell just after prolonged hard acceleration. Today, the same thing. A smell after hard acceleration on the A31. A bit like rotting eggs. Never happens with normal driving and it's only intermittent. I assume it must be something to do with getting the engine or gearbox particularly hot.

Is this anything to worry about? The car doesn't seem to use engine oil or gearbox oil and I don't see oil smoke. Any advice?

Mine does this, 2.5 STi but before my rebuild. Tends to be the higher gears 5th and 6th for me, hence it happened to you on the Hogs Back...I use that road daily.


I wonder if it's a cat smell, just getting hot, I noticed it first on mine after PPP being fitted.
Maybe check for rocker cover gaskets leaking onto the exhaust, but on a pretty fresh rebuilt, I bet they're not.

Hmm. Only before your rebuild??! :(

When I bought the car I did take the undertray off and have a good look around. The only leak I saw was a slight weep from the power steering. However, I will have another look I think.

Sorry no, since before and after my rebuild.
Interesting, I have a leak which looks like power steering cylinder....underneath near the gearbox, but it's actually coming from my sump or the inspection covers on the back of the block.


It's just misting and travelling back....making it look like power steering at a glance.

Erm, yeah, it was covering one of the inboard steering rack boots near the gearbox. I assumed it was PS fluid. We have the same leak then.:D

I would think a smell after hard acceleration would be clutch.

maybe check your underpants!!!!!:)




sorry could not resist, hope its nothing serious.:thumb:

Knew that was coming.:D

Rotting eggs always used to be the smell given off by a hot catalytic converter in the early days of them, can't say as I've noticed it for a few years though.

Exedy Race clutch wouldn't have a problem with 355bhp, would it? And only after 12k mls.

My classic stinks too, I smell it when I put it back in the garage. I looked into it a while ago and it's something to do with unburnt fuel in the cat. As far as I remember, it's nothing much to worry about.

Does it have the auto intercooler spray ? Stinky water when it's spraying maybe ?

A fiend of mine had exactly the same problem. When I took a look, it turned out it was the type of gearbox oil. He'd checked the gearbox oil, and a few drops had dropped not the gearbox, then when it had heated up, it stank! Check your gearbox dipstick, see if it smells of eggs!

Most gearbox oil smells like that, in my experience! That's why I think it might be the box oil getting very hot. I'm using oil as recommended by Oilman.

Hmm. didn't think of that. My classic had very smelly water in the IC water container. However, I didn't use it on that occasion.