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Thread: Chemical odor after longer / harder drives

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Alpine white 1995 M3

    Chemical odor after longer / harder drives

    1995 with 147K on the clock. Acquired by me 2mo ago without much history (from a friend). After longer drives there's a distinct chemical smell apparent around the midsection of the car. Nothing leaking, nothing smoking/steaming. Coolant system is fine (has an OE plastic-end radiator that is in remarkably good shape).

    Closest I can think is that it is coolant but not exactly. It's sharp on the nose. Again, nothing leaking so I'm at quite a loss.

    What should I be thinking of here and looking for? You really can't smell it inside the car but it's quite obvious on the outside. Hangs around for maybe 15min as the car cools down.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    562
    My Cars
    '97 BMW M3/2/5
    I've had to chase down a few weird smells lol. Just a few things I can think of that isn't caused by an obvious fuel/coolant leak. Pretty random thoughts, I don't mean to put you into a wild goose chase.

    1. Are you headers wrapped? Header wrap and spray can take many many many heat cycles to fully get the smell out. They normally say one heat cycle is enough, lies! They will continue to smell even after they stop smoking. Mine smelled over multiple track weekends.
    2. Windshield fluid reservoir. Mine had a small leak where the pump interfaced with the reservoir. Sprayed a bit onto the headers when I used them, smelly.
    3. Driveshaft rubbing on underside sound deadening. My driveshaft was rubbing against some material that had fallen down and for some reason smelled bad from all the friction. Had to be under the car to smell this one though, and it's not that chemically...

    When you turn your air on inside, do you smell anything funky through the vents?

    Just some ideas to maybe spark something.
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    8
    My Cars
    Alpine white 1995 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by Carpy2 View Post
    I've had to chase down a few weird smells lol. Just a few things I can think of that isn't caused by an obvious fuel/coolant leak. Pretty random thoughts, I don't mean to put you into a wild goose chase.

    1. Are you headers wrapped? Header wrap and spray can take many many many heat cycles to fully get the smell out. They normally say one heat cycle is enough, lies! They will continue to smell even after they stop smoking. Mine smelled over multiple track weekends.
    2. Windshield fluid reservoir. Mine had a small leak where the pump interfaced with the reservoir. Sprayed a bit onto the headers when I used them, smelly.
    3. Driveshaft rubbing on underside sound deadening. My driveshaft was rubbing against some material that had fallen down and for some reason smelled bad from all the friction. Had to be under the car to smell this one though, and it's not that chemically...

    When you turn your air on inside, do you smell anything funky through the vents?

    Just some ideas to maybe spark something.
    Hey thanks much for the reply. Stock manifold, no header paint/wrap. Good thought though.

    Washer fluid is interesting - I cleaned out the reservoir when I first got the car a couple months ago, replacing the level sensor and pump. I'll look for leaks there.

    Driveshaft is very interesting, that's the kind of thing that I was hoping someone would have a clue on. I'll do some spelunking underneath. No funky smells in the air vents!

    If I find something interesting I'll post here ... always something

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