Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

[Jernik]

Obviously I am concerned, or I wouldn't be asking.

Merging onto interstate this weekend, AC on full / Recirc, and after I got onto the interstate and backed off the gas, I smelled the stinky egg / catalytic converter smell in the 4R (usually only smelled when back window down and hard acceleration). All windows were up, AC on (again, in Recirc mode). Makes me wonder if exhaust is getting into the cabin all the time, although I don't usually smell it.

Any thoughts? Suppose I could get a Carbon Monoxide detector for piece of mind...

 

[kapp_badbloodz]

Can you recreate this issue on demand? Has it occurred more than this occasion?

 

[Jernik]

I'll have to see next time I take it out on the highway. I don't recall smelling this before without any windows being down, it kinda surprised me.

 

[Mistaken]

If you search, there are lots of threads around this. I read them awhile ago and seem to remember its normal or happens. :yo:

 

[Jernik]

If you search, there are lots of threads around this. I read them awhile ago and seem to remember its normal or happens. :yo:

I may have missed a thread... Saw a lot of discussion about this with the back window down, so I know the cat smelling under load is normal.

What I'm not sure of is if it's normal for the smell (exhaust) to be pulled into the cabin with all windows up and AC on recirc.

I don't have the 4R with me today, but I'll see if I can recreate it during the commute tomorrow. I'll also search some more to see if I can find more info on it.

 

[Antman]

I may have missed a thread... Saw a lot of discussion about this with the back window down, so I know the cat smelling under load is normal.

What I'm not sure of is if it's normal for the smell (exhaust) to be pulled into the cabin with all windows up and AC on recirc.

I don't have the 4R with me today, but I'll see if I can recreate it during the commute tomorrow. I'll also search some more to see if I can find more info on it.

I know you stated that the back window was up, but maybe it was open just a little bit. You can't tell from the rearview mirror if it is, in fact, all the way up. I have had the same thing happen to me and that's how I realized that the back window was open.

my .02

 

[bimrunner]

It could have just been stanky outside too, unless you can recreate this on a regular basis, I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[1engineer]

Trust me, your vehicle is not airtight and some odors can be smelled when it's only a few ppb instead of ppm. Go past a paper mill sometime. Also it could have been the car in front of you.

 

[Bevo]

Trust me, your vehicle is not airtight and some odors can be smelled when it's only a few ppb instead of ppm. Go past a paper mill sometime.

Or a feedlot. uke:

 

[diddley.bo]

I've noticed the smell on more than one occasion while climbing up a ramp onto the highway with a heavy foot. Windows all the way up, AC recirculating.

 

[SKP-4R]

I wonder if its only when you have the A/C on the position that flows air to the floor of the cabin. I think its the second position from the left.

 

[Foques]

every. single. car. does. this.

 

[Drew Dumas]

Same thing happened the day after I took the floral carbon filter out of my intake. Smelled for a couple days and then it went away that was a year ago. I haven't smelled it since.

 

[marshal]

also when you full throttle, the computer shuts off the AC compressor to maintain max power - could have gotten some stank smell from that

 

[Jernik]

every. single. car. does. this.

Maybe, but that just means my 4R is apparently the only one slow enough that it can't outrun the smell! :laugh:

 

[Jernik]

I wonder if its only when you have the A/C on the position that flows air to the floor of the cabin. I think its the second position from the left.

Interesting, because I think I had it set for the mix - floor and dash vent.

I'll also check to make sure back window is up all the way.

And maybe it's just normal, or the wind was blowing right that day. Anyway,
thanks all for the replies. If I find a common denominator, I'll share that info.

 

[4r2014]

every. single. car. does. this.

Yet of the dozen or so auto boards I've read I have never seen this being a problem.

 

[Foques]

Yet of the dozen or so auto boards I've read I have never seen this being a problem.

This isn't a "problem". this is a side effect.
bump a gas pedal hard enough so that fuel is not burned completely, and you get that result. I imagined that was a common knowledge, apparently it isnt.

 

[Jernik]

This isn't a "problem". this is a side effect.
bump a gas pedal hard enough so that fuel is not burned completely, and you get that result. I imagined that was a common knowledge, apparently it isnt.

I don't recall smelling that in any other vehicle besides this 4R (with windows up/AC recirc on), and I've done my fair share of hammering on everything I've driven.

Made sure all windows were up, and tried this morning but couldn't replicate it. I'm sure the cats were stinky, but the smell never made it in the cabin. I guess conditions were just right the other day, I dunno.

Thanks to all for the input, it is appreciated. :thumb: