2005 with sulfur smell

aamills said:
I have 2005 V6 Sport, recently with the weather being nice I have had the back window down. To my surprise, on several occasions I would like to add, I have smelled sulfur. I thought Toyota fixed this problem and I would not have the problem on a 05?
Any other 05's owners noticed the sulfur smell?
This stinks!

yes, that ugly smell. 2005 4wd v6 SR5. i have been in denial and wished it were the exhaust of other vehicles around me :-(

is it really that hard to fix, even it'd been reported to Toyota in prev years!
 
Punk - I agree with you. My 2004 with the TSB completed still has the smell, but its better than before.. You should have smelled it BEFORE the fix! It would have dropped you flat on your back!!!
 
Noticed the sulfur smell in my 2005 V8 SE today when driving to work. I thought maybe it will go away or reduce once I break it in...<hoping>
 
And I thought my kid crapped his pants....

New 05 Sport V8 and sure enough, when I have the rear window down and give it more than 1/4 throttle she smells VERY foul....
My understanding is that this is normal.... Many cars do this. Not quite as bad, but its normal....

Heck if I'm running 93 octane to kill the smell...
 
05V8SPRT said:

Heck if I'm running 93 octane to kill the smell...

Soooo, basically you're paying out yer arse by putting in $14/gallon Superduperludicrouspeed octane??!!!! Go with the 87 and save yourself the dough since the smell is going to be there either way, unfortunately!....:upset:
 
My 05 V8 seems ok so far.....but I don't drive with the rear window down much. Driving with the rear window down in any SUV type vehicle is generally not recomended, as exhaust can enter the cabin, and all exhaust does smell somewhat, particularily under load.

Easy possible fixes:

a) Try different brands of gas, if that doesn't work, try different octanes (as mentioned)....For example, Esso and Petro Canada gas stunk bad in my 03 V8, but Chevron fuel did not smell at all (all 87 oct). Esso 87 stunk, but Esso 91 didn't, etc.

b) Don't drive with rear window down

c) a + b
 
I've actually only experienced the sulfur smell 3 times during the 11 months that I've had her ('04 V6 Ltd), but the 3 times happened only recently, during the last 2 months. I thought I was one of the lucky few people who didn't have the problem until it happened for the 1st time. :mad: I only put 91 oct premium in her after the very 1st tank when new. Maybe there are other factors involved, but I'm not sure. If it happens just once in awhile w/the rear hatch window opened (never more than 1/2 way) while driving, I can live w/it. I've never smell any sulfur w/the windows up. I don't want the TSB service if my mpg is gonna drop. Hopefully it won't get any worse, if it does, I may take it in. BTW, does anyone know if the TSB repairs are done only if the vehicle is still under warranty? Thx!
 
From my understanding, the Sulpher TSB has a mileage limit, I think its 80,000. But im not 100%. I had the TSB performed at 16,000 miles. I really didnt notice change in power or MPG. I am currently getting 19.5-22mpg average with almost 25,000 miles on the clock. I have not smelled the sulphur smell since the TSB was performed.
 
sharp4runr said:
he's right though, the premium gas actually has less smell. Don't ask me why, but it does.

do you own a gas station or something???? !!;):

Damn.... Looks like $2.55/gal premium during the summer months then....
 
atomic punk said:
do you own a gas station or something???? !!;):

Damn.... Looks like $2.55/gal premium during the summer months then....

$2.55/gal? Damn, we can barely get 87 regular for that price here in SoCal. I pay b/t $2.68-$2.75 for premium at the bargain gas stations (no, I don't mean the cheaper brand gas stations). I've seen premium as high as $2.99/gal in some areas. Most are around $2.80/gal
 
atomic punk said:
do you own a gas station or something???? !!;):

Damn.... Looks like $2.55/gal premium during the summer months then....

Bwaahahaaaa, yeah I wish! Nah I only fill up on premium on Thursdays. On Thursdays thye have a sale and Premium is actually cheaper than mid-grade.
 
2004 with the TSB done, and still have the smell. My dealership is having me meet with the Southeast Toyota Factory rep in May to have him "observe" problem. I will address it with him that many others still have this problem with thier 2005's. The Intent for my meeting is to request a Borla dual exhaust as a fix for the problem.

I believe that having a side swept exhast, rather than a rear exit exhaust is one of the main reasons for the smell.

Can anyone verify this? Has anyone that had the sulfer smell, notice it go away when they changed thier exhaust?
 
I consider myself fairly smart.... I have a science background. Have taken about 50 Math courses in College.... Very technical and logical.... Score very high on IQ tests..... I also understand engines. Have rebuilt many small engines as a kid... Understand the principals and concepts of modern engines... Yadda yadda.... Also smart enough to know I dont know everything....

CAN NOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME figure out how they would get rid of a sulfur smell through a TSB???

Are they playing with the Air-fuel ratio's? How about timing? I should think these are tuned for a MOST complete burn in the cumbustion chamber.... AND they have the latest smog crap on the engine... AND they have about 8-10 (exagerating) Catalytic Converters on the thing.....

I would *think* its more of the fuel you buy. Most fuels come from the same stock BUT add their own proprietary additives (Exxon X-12... yea whatever).... Perhaps its a combination of the fuel brand and the way this particular engine was designed?

I only notice the smell when I give it more throttle. Hence, it could be more noticeable with more exhaust (throttle). OR the Converters could be storing a bit of sulfur dust and it gets blown out with more pressure? Converters do hold particles and are intended to BURN anything left-over from the cumbustion. They also get clogged which means they CAN in-fact trap particles....

I personally think sulfurish smelling particles are trapped in the Converters and we are blowing them out under higher pressures (more throttle)....

That said, I also think the fuel brand MAY or MAY NOT help. Using 93 octane versus 87 octane might make a difference becuase the 93 octane is a SLOWER burning fuel. Might make a more complete burn and cause LESS to accumulate in the converters...


Interesting topic... I would not have the engine re-tuned. Could cause less HP from engine. They could just be appeasing you and doing NOTHING....
 
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Here's the deal! Toyota KNOWS there is a problem (probably a design problem) that can not be fixed and meet EPA standards. This is also a problem with many other manufactures have. Toyota put a band-aid on it by redesigning the rear spoiler to divert more air flow down the rear of the vehicle. All they are going to do is pacify anyone who complains by changing the cats (squeaky wheel). They will continue to make you believe they don't know what you are talking about or pacify you with silly parts replacements. As long as no one is getting hurt, it
 
Just thought I'd throw mine out here on this list since I've noticed the smell when accelerating uphill. I only have 600 miles on my 05 so far. Dealer's response was "it's new and will go away" which I know from this board isn't true.

Scott
 
I thought I was the lucky one of the bunch, but now for the past 300 miles I keep getting a whiff of it too (1800 miles on a '05 V8 Sport). This morning I laughed out-loud at how bad it stunk.
 

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