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Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:45 pm

I don't feel like I am choking or anything, but I am noticing what I believe to be exhaust fumes when driving. This is my first vintage VW and actually a guy at the gas station came over to look at my car and said "oh yeah, that smells like a Volkswagen!"
So, sorry to sound like the novice I am, but should I just throw my home carbon monoxide detector in? Is there usually an operating odor? Am I just driving an old car that has been in storage a long time and being neurotic?

Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:52 pm

Carbon Monoxide is odorless and colorless. What you are likely smelling is unburned gas or perhaps you are smelling burning oil. An aging engine or a carb that is set to rich can cause this. Also, yes there is more of a smell with these old VWs as they did not have the emission controls that a new car has.

If you are smelling fumes through your heater vents or fumes are leaking in anywhere in the passeneger compartment that is potential trouble. What you smell in that case likely has carbon monoxide with it, which is deadly.

So the first step is to try to identify the source.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 2:07 pm

You should look at your exhaust system and heater boxes. If you don't know what those are you should read a manual and also spend some time on the forums here as you are experiencing pretty common problems.

Exhaust fumes often come from rusted heater boxes or rusted exhaust pipes / connections that are letting exhaust fumes mix with the heated air that is coming in through your car's heater outlets. There's no need to live with that smell, and to answer your original question, any time you smell exhaust inside the car, it is dangerous.

If on the other hand you think you might be smelling gas then that's coming from a different place. Ditto if it's an oil smell.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 2:09 pm

also look out for missing decklid seal (it only seals the bottom half of the engine lid) I can 'smell' when I haven't shut the engine lid fully, i.e. it's just resting on the catch. Other than that, your heat exchangers could be toast or you could have gaps in the tinwear or missing engine seals.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:21 pm

I'm not Al Gore, but I don't want to kill the planet needlessly, is there anything that can be done to cut emissions? Like installing a catalytic converter or something?

Thanks,

-Gordo

Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:29 pm

Gordopolis wrote: I'm not Al Gore, but I don't want to kill the planet needlessly, is there anything that can be done to cut emissions? Like installing a catalytic converter or something?

Thanks,

-Gordo

You could not drive the car :lol:

Starting in '75 VW engines had catalytic converters and FI. I suppose you could build an engine up to this spec. However I doubt the engine would be up to the current standards. There is a reason VW stopped selling these cars in the US over 30 years ago.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:36 pm

Gordopolis wrote: I'm not Al Gore, but I don't want to kill the planet needlessly, is there anything that can be done to cut emissions? Like installing a catalytic converter or something?

Thanks,

-Gordo
Well, no cats for these V-dubs that I am aware of?? Walk more, drive less :lol:
As for Tigertree.....
Vintage VW exhaust odor is noticable, even on a well tuned engine, since these cars do not have catalytic converters to burn the extra hydrocarbons. I suspect what your smelling is probably normal but......
This does not mean that you should ignore the advice given previously. A thorough check of the exhaust system on an old car is always a good idea!

Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:44 pm

Check your valve cover gaskets! They might be leaking on your heater boxes causing the odor!

Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:49 pm

I realize that it didn't come from the factory with a CC, but wondered if it was feasible to install one and if so what kind of compromises would this create?

Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:08 pm

The engine door is an interesting suggestion. It actually wasn't closing all the way last night and I just didn't think it would matter. I'll make sure that is working properly (as soon as the ice thaws so I can actually drive it again).
I had it delivered to the shop and finally got to pick it up yesterday so was consciously ignoring some things yesterday because I wanted to drive it so badly. Got a little of that irresponsibility out of my system and I'll start looking through it properly tomorrow.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:16 pm

I think its great that you are thinking about this.

On the cat --

You could add a 70s cat -- but you would need to steal the heater boxes and exhaust system from a late 70s bug.

These cats produced lots of heat and had a high failure rate -- many speculate that the later shroud style -- with the venturi ring was designed to overcome the heat that the cat put out.

This will slightly improve mpg and reduce emissions but will:

1. Reduce the life of your engine
2. Increase the likelihood of engine fires and vapor lock.
3. it will also hamper performance

Not the best way but the most economical. I have some late 70s heater boxes if you are interested.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=VWC-043-251-051-C

2. Get in touch with Dr. Darby or the good people at 1600i.de about converting your car to the late digifant Fuel Injection and the Mexibeetle exhaust system.

This will increase performance, MPG and you will have a car that is cleaner than most cars produced in the last decade.

Costly -- would only be economical if you could find a wrecked mexibeetle.

3. Experimental -- set up a megasquirt fi system and AFR gauge -- look up and duplicate the specs of the digifant system and put in a mexibeetle exhaust system.

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24-043-253-702-D

I'd check the FI threads on shoptalkforums if you were to consider this project.

And yes, bike as often as possible and use the car to go long distances and get groceries :)

If you decide to go for it please document your progress.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:35 pm

Wouldn't a cat destroy the Ghia's performance? It seems like it doesn't have much horsepower to spare.

Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:55 pm

A 70s CAT would cause a restriction and you would lose HP, yes.

A late cat like this one:

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24-043-253-702-D

Wouldn't. In fact because it can only be used with a FI system you would gain HP.

Modern cats have a honeycomb like structure on the sides and aren't very restrictive at all. I doubt you would notice the difference between it and a standard pea shooter exhaust.

The only problem with a modern cat is that you need to be be able to control the composition of the gas going into it or it will quickly fail . .

Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:30 pm

Also, take a look at the differences in torque between the late model ghia engine and the late model mexibeetle:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/74ghia/page54.jpg

http://1600i.de/download/BtlMexTechnicalandDiagnostics1.pdf

I've been wanted to convert for a while but can't find a cheap mexibeetle to steal the engine from :)

Hope someone will give it a try and post a how to thread.

cheers, dan

Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:43 pm

Really appreciate the great ideas, like I said, I'm not a granola eater or anything but if you can be a bit more 'green' then why not? :-D

Sun Feb 06, 2011 9:50 am

IF you suspect exhaust smells in the passenger compartment they will bring carbon monoxide as well.
Yes, VW's have a "smell", most of us know and love that smell but that smell is NOT EXHAUST!!!!

Take the KNOWN WORKING CO2 sensor off your wall at home or go to a store and purchase a CO2 sensor, put it in your car and go for a ride with the windows closed.
IF THAT SENSOR GOES OFF you've got problems. Immediately open all your windows and let fresh air in. Go home, park it and find out why you have exhaust in your heater system.

Some options are.........

1. Bad gaskets in the exhaust system, including where the heat boxes bolt onto the heads.
2. Rotted out heat exchangers that are pumping exhaust into your heat system.
3. Bad seal around the engine. Missing rubber, torn rubber, missing tin, etc. This will allow the cooling fan to suck exhaust gases that have left the tailpipe back into the engine compartment and then this recycled air get pushed into your fresh air heating system thus introducing CO2 into your lungs.
4. Of course, a rotted out muffler and related pipes will cause this as well.

Dave