Car emission smell through air vents, only when using heat and not on recycle.

[Hellotalkie]

I have a ford focus zx3 2.0
For some reason I can smell combustion gasses or w/e coming through my vents when the fan is on any setting. The smell only comes when the heat is on or not on recycle. I just recently had my exhaust replaced, and this smell was way before that anyways. Replaced thermostat housing, I have a feeling it might be the valve cover gasket? I've read online that this could be a possibility, but did not exactly understand why...There is oil around the head of the engine, so I'm guessing the gasket is already cracked.

also how do i know if my 2.0 is DOHC or SOHC
I thought it was dual but could no where see anything in the engine bay saying so. Again im not that mechanically inclined when it comes to cars...

thanks!

 

[Throckmorton]

Be careful. If you have any suspicion there is an exhaust leak, drive with the windows down so you don't get carbon monoxide poisoning.

Go to the exhaust shop and have them check the exhaust piping and whatever else might leak with a gas sniffer.

Also, are you sure it's an exhaust smell? It could also be coolant from a leaking heater core (the small radiator air flows through when heat is turned on), or some other coolant leak.

 

[SSSnail]

Do your eyes get watery when you smell this fume?

 

[Hellotalkie]

Actually I think its the smell of burning oil? I can smell it from the engine bay, there is oil around the actual engine head, thats why i was thinking it needed a new gasket. Engine gets hot, burns oil, produces smell.

 

[Yowen]

gets hot, as in gets over normal operating temperature?

My muffler just fell off, I seem to be fine as long as I keep the car moving, I do roll the windows down at regular intervals, just in case.

 

[Throckmorton]

gets hot, as in gets over normal operating temperature?

My muffler just fell off, I seem to be fine as long as I keep the car moving, I do roll the windows down at regular intervals, just in case.

I wouldn't depend on seeming fine. You should get to an exhaust shop ASAP and have them fix your system then test for leaks! Brain damage is a lot worse than shelling out the cash (or credit) for the repairs

 

[foghorn67]

gets hot, as in gets over normal operating temperature?

My muffler just fell off, I seem to be fine as long as I keep the car moving, I do roll the windows down at regular intervals, just in case.

Harsh Michigan winters taking a toll?

Please fix your muffler. That can't be good for you.

 

[Hellotalkie]

This is my similar issue
http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech/490773-smoke-smell-heater-need-help.html
and normal operating temperature

 

[LTC8K6]

You do not want to fool around with exhaust gases in the car...

Despite what a certain unnamed poster says...

 

[Yowen]

Harsh Michigan winters taking a toll?

Please fix your muffler. That can't be good for you.

lol, probably not, but the car isn't worth investing the money in. But then again, maybe my life is, haha. I don't drive it much and I will soon get a new one.

if there is oil on the side of your engine, clean it off and see how fast it appears again, you'll know if you have a bad leak.
What year and what mileage is your car?

 

[KK]

if it only happens on the heat setting, then maybe what you are smelling is antifreeze leaking out of your heater core. I had to replace mine in my ranger a few years ago. I first started smelling it, then eventually I would have little puddles on my passenger side floor mat.

 

[Hellotalkie]

Well I just got my thermostat and housing replaced because my antifreeze was completely leaking. I was hoping the replacement would fix it but it didn't.

What should I do? If its the antifreeze then I dont know where to go from there.

 

[Hellotalkie]

I haven't had puddles yet...

 

[KK]

do you know where the heater core is located? Mine was located behind the glove compartment. I have no idea where yours would be though. I may be somewhere where if it was leaking it wouldn't leak inside the car.

 

[Yowen]

I get coolant puddles under my car, its a slow leak. For me there is a leak where it goes into the engine block, I got the part for 10 bucks.

 

[kornphlake]

also how do i know if my 2.0 is DOHC or SOHC
I thought it was dual but could no where see anything in the engine bay saying so. Again im not that mechanically inclined when it comes to cars...

thanks!

Take it to a mechanic or have a friend who is mechanically inclined look at it. There's no way for us to guess what the problem is when you don't have the skill or knowledge to explain what the problem is.

 

[Nemesis 1]

The smell of burning oil can't be mistaken. Problem is this. If your getting the smell of burning oil you would also get the smoke. Replace the gasket around your heater core its not a bad job on that make.

 

[exdeath]

Take your radiator cap off and take a sniff and see if that is what you smell.

The smell of coolant is notoriously strong, you can smell antifreeze a mile away from just a pinhole leak that can go on for months without your coolant level even dropping. You won't smell oil unless it's actually burning in a decent quantity, such as dripping on the exhaust.

Is it a sweet pleasant smell or a nasty choking burning tire smell?