whenever I drive with the tailgate window down I get really, really strong exhaust smell in the cabin when I acclerate aggressively or go up a long hill. basicly anything over 2grand on the tac. dealer told me some oder is normal and computer would signal a bad cat. not sure if this is normal as my 04 v8 only has 50k on it or if my cat is gong bad premature.
driving with tailgate window down
- Thread starter chadcincy
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Scoobs
Member
The sulphur smell is a known issue. There is a tsb for this but some say it doesn't really fix anything. Quite often it is a function of the brand of gas you use, some have more sulphur than others. Generally it's not a good idea to drive around with the tailgate window down because your exhaust, regardless of whether or not you can smell it, will be sucked back into the vehicle. If you are driving around with the tailgate window down make sure you have all the other windows cracked, if not down as well, so there is lots of fresh air coming in.
runnerfreak
New member
chadcincy said:
Also, I feel heat around my legs when I open the tailgate. Almost feels like all the engine heat is sucked inot the cabin.
Does adding spoiler fix this?
I have 82K miles on my SR5 06 runner and the sulpher smeel was there since I bought it with 0 miles on it.
runnerfreak
New member
Re: Re: driving with tailgate window down
Excuse the spelling; I'm using my iphone to write this
runnerfreak said:
Excuse the spelling; I'm using my iphone to write this
that phenomena is not only specific to the 4runner. I have an 85 chevy K-5 Blazer (fullsize) that has the window that rolls down and it does the exact same thing. Its actually the aerodynamics of the car/truck. As the wind comes off the top of the car and the back end drops off it makes a kinda vortex that spins around and when you open your window it almost sucks that exhaust up and shoots it in the window. Its not a design flaw in your vehicle or anythign like that, its just the aerodynamics of that style of SUV. The simple fix is just open another window.
As for the heat at your feet, I had the same thing happen to me on my 85 chevy as well. From what I gather, it felt like the back window opening made the air circulate in a strange way so that air would blow off of the front bottom part of the fire wall, which was inevitably warmer than the rest being so close to the engine. That is just my assumption
And I assume you mean the tailgate window right? not the entire tailgate?
As for the heat at your feet, I had the same thing happen to me on my 85 chevy as well. From what I gather, it felt like the back window opening made the air circulate in a strange way so that air would blow off of the front bottom part of the fire wall, which was inevitably warmer than the rest being so close to the engine. That is just my assumption
And I assume you mean the tailgate window right? not the entire tailgate?
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chadcincy said:
I drive with my rear window down all the time when the weather is nice. I don't get any exhaust smell in the cabin. Actually, I do get a bit of the sulfer smell when I'm on the gas hard, but I get that whether the rear window is down or not.
I have the OEM spoiler (non-hump), so maybe that helps keep the exhaust from coming into the open window? I dunno....
Re: Re: driving with tailgate window down
that is strange because I get no oder at all with the other windows up or down but I do have a spolier (not sure is all Ltd.'s do or not) maybe that has something to do with the amount of exhaust that is getting pulled into the vehicle.
sound to me like I do not need to worry about a bad cat. thought> and that is good news.
I am however somewhat disapointed being that was one of the reasons I purcahsed a 4runner in the first place. 6 fully opening windows. oh well I guess I will have to learn to live with it.
I wonder if there is anything I can do to minimize the smell (other than drive with the tailgate window up)
EH007 said:
that is strange because I get no oder at all with the other windows up or down but I do have a spolier (not sure is all Ltd.'s do or not) maybe that has something to do with the amount of exhaust that is getting pulled into the vehicle.
sound to me like I do not need to worry about a bad cat. thought> and that is good news.
I am however somewhat disapointed being that was one of the reasons I purcahsed a 4runner in the first place. 6 fully opening windows. oh well I guess I will have to learn to live with it.
I wonder if there is anything I can do to minimize the smell (other than drive with the tailgate window up)
Scoobs
Member
Re: Re: driving with tailgate window down
If you are driving with the tailgate window down you are getting exhaust coming into your vehicle. The fact that you can or cannot smell it does not determine whether or not it is coming in. A significant component of exhaust is carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
EH007 said:
If you are driving with the tailgate window down you are getting exhaust coming into your vehicle. The fact that you can or cannot smell it does not determine whether or not it is coming in. A significant component of exhaust is carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas.
GREENMONSTER
New member
I used to get a strong exhaust odor from my rear window when I had it open also. That was when I had the stock exhaust that exited out the rear. Now that I have the TRD exhaust that exits out from the side, it totally eliminated the exhaust smell that comes in from the rear when the window is down. Before I changed anything, I went to a mufler shop and asked them if the exhaust smell was normal. They told me that its illegal for any SUV automaker (espeacially ones that have rear opening windows) to have a rear exit exhaust for that exact reason. They also told me that the 4runner is the only SUV that has a rear exit (meaning not a side exit exhaust) that is factory and has not been recalled or challenged by the government due to this regulation. Hope this helps anyone...
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Re: Re: Re: driving with tailgate window down
You sound like you know that for sure. I disagree with your opinion. And besides, have you ever hooked up a gas analyzer to your 4Runner's tailpipe? I have, as part of a state inspection to test emissions. All levels (including carbon monoxide) were less than .01 PPM (parts per million) directly out of the tailpipe. Therefore, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to breathe in any dangerous level of gases, even if I piped them directly into the cabin.
In other words, don't worry too much about "dangerous" exhuast gases on a modern vehicle. They simply run too clean to lose any sleep over it.
Scoobs said:
You sound like you know that for sure. I disagree with your opinion. And besides, have you ever hooked up a gas analyzer to your 4Runner's tailpipe? I have, as part of a state inspection to test emissions. All levels (including carbon monoxide) were less than .01 PPM (parts per million) directly out of the tailpipe. Therefore, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to breathe in any dangerous level of gases, even if I piped them directly into the cabin.
In other words, don't worry too much about "dangerous" exhuast gases on a modern vehicle. They simply run too clean to lose any sleep over it.
