Car stinks when I accelerate to fast

[mikesayboom]

Within the last 5k miles I noticed that if I quickly accelerate up to speed limit which is very rare but when I'm trying to race the sun to get a quick lap in mtb I push it harder then I ever do. But when I do I notice that there is a very stinky smell to it. I cant place the smell to it but it doesn't really smell like burning oil. When I bought the runner last year it did have a pretty bad oil leak from the VC gaskets and there is quiet a bit of oil caked onto the engine and other places so I'm thinking maybe with me pushing it its maybe burning off the old oil thats been caked onto the engine?

Also I stupidly didn't change the cam plugs when I did the gaskets so I still do have a slight oil leak going on that I'm going to fix this summer when I get some time.

Anyone else's runner have this problem?

 

[hyken]

Is the smell coming from the vents or from outside the car? What's the closest thing it smells like to you (doesn't have to be car related)?

 

[JayRolla]

Sulfer smell from clogged or failing cat. Sulfer is in the fuel. If you have bad o2 sensor the rich mixture will build sulfer in the cat. If o2s are fine replacing the cat should help.

 

[I'mStock]

Sulfer smell from clogged or failing cat. Sulfer is in the fuel. If you have bad o2 sensor the rich mixture will build sulfer in the cat. If o2s are fine replacing the cat should help.

This is what I was thinking... OP, would you say it smells like fireworks?

 

[mikesayboom]

This is what I was thinking... OP, would you say it smells like fireworks?

Smell is for sure coming from the outside of the car. If I have the windows up I can barely smell it. but i usually have them down so its even worse. If i had to put a smell to it. Fireworks could possibly be the closest thing to it but its even worse. I kind of enjoy the smell of fireworks but not this smell. also my car isn't throwing any CELs

 

[thegipper]

Another vote for a clogged/failing cat.

 

[I'mStock]

If you're getting any kind of "fireworks" vibe from it, I'd say cat. Like Jay mentioned, that sulfur smell is usually indicative of a bad cat.

 

[SnowLizard]

I too have a bad smell from a heavy foot. luckily it never comes in the cab. sadly the bad smell is also there at idle when hot.

I do have new cats, and the smell never changed when I replaced them, I also have new O2 sensor with the CATS, I used to get a CEL but not since I replaced both cats and sensor...

I have also heard of the 'rotten egg' smell... but mine isn't that either... and it's not really fireworks smell either.
It is pretty aweful... I did replace the valve cover gaskets and the half-moons.

I'll be watching this thread....


btw, I also have a new muffler, so I doubt I have any blockage.

 

[3bears]

hows your performance and mpg
a failing or plugged cat will effect both in most cases in other cars I have owned
have not had that issue with my 4runner ( smell or cat issues) so I cant speak for a 4runner experience with the cat.

 

[1985taylor1925]

As jayrolla said, it's the cat converter. Had the exact same smell from my exhaust for several years. Coming to a stop on the highway with the windows down it was terrible. A fireworks/sulfur smell. I replaced the cat with a Walker and the smell has been gone for over a year

 

[1985taylor1925]

I too have a bad smell from a heavy foot. luckily it never comes in the cab. sadly the bad smell is also there at idle when hot.

I do have new cats, and the smell never changed when I replaced them, I also have new O2 sensor with the CATS, I used to get a CEL but not since I replaced both cats and sensor...

I have also heard of the 'rotten egg' smell... but mine isn't that either... and it's not really fireworks smell either.
It is pretty aweful... I did replace the valve cover gaskets and the half-moons.

I'll be watching this thread....


btw, I also have a new muffler, so I doubt I have any blockage.

Yours must be something different. What does it smell like exactly?

 

[Caden Crawford]

Im having the same issue!!

 

[mikesayboom]

As jayrolla said, it's the cat converter. Had the exact same smell from my exhaust for several years. Coming to a stop on the highway with the windows down it was terrible. A fireworks/sulfur smell. I replaced the cat with a Walker and the smell has been gone for over a year

man I love these forums, Thanks for all the help guys. My next question was what kind of replacement cat I should go with? I do all my own work and what I never looked at was how many cats does this thing have or is there a certain one I should replace? I was looking at getting the magna flow hi flo cat looks like a lot of folks have had luck with those. I've never heard of the walker brand.

I began to look at upgrading the exhaust to get a little bit of bass/rumble out of it but everything I see on the forums/youtube result in a ricey exhaust and that is what i don't want.

 

[DK327]

I've never heard of the walker brand.

I began to look at upgrading the exhaust to get a little bit of bass/rumble out of it but everything I see on the forums/youtube result in a ricey exhaust and that is what i don't want.

I've done Walker SS cat-back and it was bolt on and sounds great! Some say Walker uses cheap chinese steel and can rust, I've coated mine with high temp black paint, hoping to mitigate this, so far it's been holding up great. There is also Gibson cat back as an alternative by Burtman Industries.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

If you don't have the dredded bad cat P code I wouldn't just buy a cat for the smell. It's burning off deposits inside it. Or your running rich or do a hole lot of short trips. If the cats bad you will get the code. 420 I believe is it.


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[mikesayboom]

If you don't have the dredded bad cat P code I wouldn't just buy a cat for the smell. It's burning off deposits inside it. Or your running rich or do a hole lot of short trips. If the cats bad you will get the code. 420 I believe is it.


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Yeah i have no check engine lights or anything. Just passed Texas inspection this morning with no issues. Would a clogged cat cause me to fail?

 

[19963.4lsr5]

That's hard to say on a mass air flow engine. The restricted CAT would reduce the airflow and compensate.

On a MAP (vacuum, I believe its referred to as speed density) the airflow is assumed and the plugged cat reduces airflow through engine and the pre-cat O2 sensor compensates. Giving a high - (negative) fuel trim and "Codes" for a excessive rich condition.

If you have good mpg and performance to me the cat air flow is ok


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