a strange vinegary smell S320cdi 2003

[tawfeeq]

hi there gentlmen

i have noticed lately that when the car is ideling and am standing next to it that there is a strange vinegar like smell (and yes am sure its from the car) honestly i have smelled it before but it has increased in intensity and was wondering is this normal for a deisel engine

aprriciate your help in the matter

 

[kwakdonut]

Could be evaporating diesel fuel. Might be worth taking the plastic engine cover off and checking the injectors and fuel lines for leakage. If an injector is leaking, it is usually pretty obvious.

 

[tawfeeq]

hi there thanks for the reply i have taken the engine cover off and watched the engine during operation i could not see any leaks

 

[tawfeeq]

hi there guys
i hope some one can help with this post as the smell is driving me crazy

 

[davidjpowell]

Is your bottle of screen wash leaking?

 

[mika]

fish and chips?

 

[camerafodder]

If I'm standing near my diesel when its idling there is an acidic vinegary smell. My Shogun was the same. I assume its to do with modern exhaust filtration/treatment.

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Well some cars do put out odd smells, we have a couple of 3ltr derv Shoguns at work and if you stand next to them for a while the cat converter starts to smell like alcohol!!

If your running normal derv and non of your fluids are leaking it may well be your aircon/airmatic.

Buy yourself an 'aircon bomb', 10 quid from automotive store. Lots of fungiesides 'sorry for spelling of that', kills all the nastys in your system

 

[Benzowner]

Could be salt water getting onto the cats/exhaust and evapourating.

 

[Justin1600]

Did you look down the side of the injectors themselves, common to leak around the bottom due to the copper washer failing and then you eventually get a build up of carbon around the injector.
Also look at the front of the engine as the high pressure pump leaks where the two diesel pipes join it

 

[tawfeeq]

thank you guys
the smell have gone away after i replaced the maf now it smells like a regulare petrol enging with unburnt fuel at the exchaust