Odd smell

[speedy]

Hi all,

I keep getting a smell through the heater vents. It happens every now and again and mostly when i give it some beans :D The engine had a new head gasket about 1000 miles ago, but that is ok and the car doesn't overheat, no oil in the water or mayo in the oil, no loss of coolant, and it runs perfect.

The air con makes some strange noises from time to time too, coming from behind the dials area.

Ideas?

[632 Regal]

the smell is antifreeze from either a pinhole in the heatercore or where the aluminum lines go into it at the rubber seals. Big ol project but doable. The noises, are they when you shut the car off? If so its normal.

[speedy]

The noise is after i turn off so all is ok there then :)

I haven't seen any leaks as such so maybe it is a slight seep. Only get the smell once the engine has warmed up.

[Jose]

you said the headgasket was replaced. Maybe there is still some coolant left on the cilinder block from removing the head or a coolant hose clamp isn´t tight enough and leaking small amounts of coolant onto a hot cilinder block. Does it have a kind of sweetish smell to it ? You could wash of your cilinder block with a steamcleaner and see if that helps.

[grave77]

since u serviced the engine ... as the guys said the coolent spilt on the engine block also some oil drips on the exhaust manifold could generate this smell in the heater. u need to check the microfilter too if u have in ur car. if it has an amount of dust this will absorb the smell for a long time especially if it's socked with humidity during winter.

[speedy]

It defo smells of anti freeze although it's not a bad smell. I don't think it's leaking as if it was leaking the water level would go down a little, which it's not.

The engine bay hasn't been cleaned, and there was still oily fingerprints on the front wings when i bought it.

Microfilter, someone tell me where it is? I haven't a clue where to look. I used to be a lazy git and get others to service my cars for me :)

[grave77]

from the passengers seat under the dash in the middle behind the heater unit, u need to remove the "sword" once u pull it u will be able to pull the microfilter off.
search in "microfilter" u will find many threads about it in details

[Nick.Hay]

OK, so while we are on the topic of Odd Smells... :(

My aircon smells really bad like stinky feet!! It happens if I have the aircon on for a bit, then switch it off.

The aircon doesn't smell... It only happens when the aircon gets switched off.

I took the car to an aircon specialist, and its still on R12 gas. They said the smell was bacteria on the core, so they sprayed 'ozium' thru it to kill the bacteria. However, the fragrance of the ozuim lasted long enough for me to pay the $65 for it, then it was back to 'stinky feet'...


Ideas??
I guess I should get it changed over to 134A gas.

[peks]

have you changed your socks lately?

[grave77]

usualy the this smell comes out of the AC means that it has fungas. mostly in the dust stuck in the microfilter or the gas radiator that gets cold when u switch the AC on. thatsif u dont have microfilter. but u need it checked for sure.

[speedy]

from the passengers seat under the dash in the middle behind the heater unit, u need to remove the "sword" once u pull it u will be able to pull the microfilter off.
search in "microfilter" u will find many threads about it in details

Cheers, i will have a look at that during the week :)