Unfortunately, it's affecting many other brands (almost all i think) too.

My '03 stinks so bad I (almost) wish I hadn't bought it. I've been through the fight with the local dealer and Toyota customer service. Tried many differant brands of gas, etc. with little luck. After pointing out to my friendly service advisor that I'd tried differant gas, and that my wife's '03 Subaru did'nt stink when it ran the same gas, he admitted that it was just the super clean exhaust standard they were achieving. I even had the state DEQ test the exhaust output... zero% CO, and 12 ppm hydrocarbons. So where do I fint the o2 simulator for the rear cat...

I'm from Southern California and I've been wondering about the sulfur smell for a while now . Maybe I'll try switching up to Union 76 100 octane

(not a chance the oil companies will)

If you don't mind paying around $5/gal then the refinieries (not the producing oil companies) would be glad to produce as close to 0 sulfur gas as they possibly can.
The fact is for oil to go to the refineries from the oil companies the sulfur content of the crude has to be very low to even be sent to the cracker for gasoline production.

If you think about it, the fact that more owners are smelling sulfur out of the exhaust is not a good thing - i.e. acid rain (H2SO4) production. The manufacturers are required to eliminate CO2 production which really does not affect the environment at all - sulfur affects the environment.

Someone asked if this affected the 04's as well. The answer is yes, although the only time I have ever smelled it is after my morning commute to work, right after I leave the interstate and sit at a redlight, then it is rotten egg city.

Thanks to rjmespn on CLUBLEXUS:

Thank you for bringing your sulfur fume issue to the Environmental
Protection Agency. The percentage of fresh air required in the
recirculation mode of your vehicle?s air conditioning system is not
under EPA jurisdiction. It may be governed by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA can be contacted at
1-800-424-9396 or on the web at www.nhtsa.dot.gov

EPA has been made aware of concerns regarding sulfur odors. It is my
understanding that in 2002/2003 Toyota replaced the nickel based
catalytic converter lining with a non-nickel containing compound in
order to reduce the exposure of its employees. Nickel is a toxic
compound. we believe that new lining currently in use, specifically in
2003 and later Toyota models, does not handle the sulfur in gasoline as
well as the former nickel compound. Therefore resulting in the sulfur
odor you are noticing in your vehicle.

Over the next few years, Air Quality Tier 2 regulations are requiring
the formula for gasoline to change. If you wold like more information,
the final rule regarding sulfur content in gasoline was published on
February 10, 2000 and is located in the Federal Register Volume 65 (65
FR 6698). Currently, the sulfur content in gasoline is approximately 120
parts per million and is capped at 300 parts per million. By 2006
refiners must begin producing gasoline with an average sulfur content of
30 parts per million with a cap of 80 parts per million.

I hope that this information assist you. If you have any further
questions, please feel free to contact me directly by phone at
(214)665-8555, or by e-mail at [email protected].


Karla Ann Richardson
US EPA Region 6
Air Planning, 6PD-L
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75202

Toyota's TSB for the Sulfur smell

Attached Images

sulfur.pdf (23.3 KB, 1092 views)

One of my friends has a '04 Corolla that continuosuly emits the sulfur smell...he's using the lemon law to resolve this.

My '03 4Runner (2/03 build date) rarely emits this smell, but I have noticed it every now and then. Dealer gave me same story...change gas stations, try higher octane, turn recirculation off, tap my ankles together 5 times while pumping gas

Is he successful??? I doubt that he would get anywhere...but good luck to him.

Thai,

According to him, the attorney is pretty confident. The attorney was successful with a similiar case but with a Lexus. Toyota ended up settling out of court for like 5K.

His converter consistently emits the sulfur smell so I think he has a strong case. I'll let you know what happens...

I have an 04 V8 and I smell the same rotten smell especially when I step on the gas (and not necessarily floor it). I guess this is the new speed governor.

I've contacted both my dealer and Toyota Customer service over this issue. I met last week with one of their regional engineers. He said that they are aware of the issue and gave me the usual "It the gas" story. But also made the recomondation that I keep the door and hatch seals condtioned with a silicone based plastics conditioner (Armor All or what not) to lessen the chances of the fumes getting arond the rear hatch. I stated that does me little good when I driving with the sun roof and the windows open in the summer.

There are many complaints on the NTHSA web site though a few of them are from people driving around with the rear window down. :headslap:

Just registered a complaint myself. I paid too much to have my truck smell like sh**. That's what my bathroom is for.

I live in Washington state, which is apparently not regulated. I use only Chevron gasoline (because it's a convenient station, I always have, and I like the Techron that they put in it). In our SR5 V8s first 2000 miles we have noticed NO heavy sulpherous smell when driving, none at all, even with all of the windows down. Out of sheer curiosity, I went so far as to stand behind the vehicle as my wife reved the engine, the smell was apparent but not overwhelming by any means. I almost feel like filling the tank with cheap Arco gas from some AM PM mart (which, by the way is generally 10 to 15 cents cheaper per gallon) just to see if I can get it to make the smell everyone is complaining about!

My hypothesis: USE CHEVRON!!

Hi all I have a 96 4Runner and I live in the central valley in California. We have the sulfer smell, pretty much nomatter where we buy the gas. I know of others with the same problems, here in Cali.