Weird smell

[Stratman]

I keep getting whiffs of a strange aroma in the car. It's similar to gloss paint or paint thinners. I thought 'fuel leak' but a quick look showed nothing and the fuel consumption hasn't dropped as far as I can tell. I smell it mostly in traffic so it could be the car in front, but I'm just trying to convince myself

Car is a W203 C200 cdi.

any ideas?

 

[Dieselman]

Check for either a diesel or compression leak past the injectors. If you keep smelling a smell it is likely to be your car.

 

[A210AMG]

Change your aftershave...












Could it be the aircon? have you turned it off...on.....?

 

[Stratman]

What's wrong with Brut?

It's not an aircon smell (smelly dishcloths), more like old paint thinners.

 

[corned]

Is you car garaged at night, or could some prankster have poured a little white spirit down the air inlet grille overnight?

 

[Dieselman]

Is you car garaged at night, or could some prankster have poured a little white spirit down the air inlet grille overnight?

Surely that would A: evaporate and B: be constant.

Having seen a friend chuck one down his Brothers car intake many years ago, I assure you a kipper is more effective...

 

[Stratman]

It's kept off road behind a noisy sliding gate, but the smell is not a one-off occurrence. It probably is a leak from somewhere, I was just hoping an expert would say "Oh, that smell is......." where ....... is cheap and easy

 

[BlackC55]

Remove the engine covers and take a peek at the injectors. Any chuffing noise?

 

[ringway]

Change your aftershave...

I'd recommend TRILL aftershave.

The birds love it.

 

[BlackC55]

I'd recommend TRILL aftershave.

The birds love it.

Jesus. I know it's late!!!!
:bannana:

 

[elite_504]

Not screenwash is it? Screenwash connector popped off at the bulkhead and breathing alcoholic screenwash up at the cabin air filter?

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Any scratches on your bonnet? could be a tom cat having a p<>s on the window/air ducts (ammonia)

 

[Stratman]

It's probably not the screenwash as the rear washer works, the footwell is dry and it's not that kind of smell, nor is it ammonia. It instantly transports me back to when I was a small boy and my dad was painting the skirting boards in the front room. It's just like the old style gloss paint fumes.

I'll have a look under the cover tomorrow and see if I can detect any chuffing. Would I be able to feel it blow against my hand?

 

[sinky]

Stale fuel = Varnish smell

 

[300E]

Could it be auto transmission fluid - also used in the power steering system?

Worth checking the levels / for leaks.

 

[Stratman]

I've had the lid off and I'm pretty sure there's no chuffing sounds, likewise there's no marks on the underside of the engine cover to indicate hot gases have been hitting it.

I did notice some gunge at the front of the engine. Can anyone identify a known or likely cause?

 

[Markedes]

Not an expert, but could it be weeping from the rear of the fuel pump, as had the same on the ML.

Regards.

 

[elite_504]

Did you get to the bottom of this. . .?
Only today, I started to get a whiff of like "hot batteries". I extended the battery breather further away from the cabin air intake, but the smell is still there. On another matter, it does seem odd to have the intake above the battery.....

 

[lakhbir singh]

get ur call fully checked at d dealer's stop

 

[holbay]

Any chuffing noise?

Only after sex ( sorry misread it i thought it said huffing )