engine smell in cabin at idle

bpeckm · Post by **bpeckm** » 12 Mar 2003, 09:28

we have a strange problem that we cannot seem to get rid of. 1994 855Turbo with 155k miles on it. When we start the car cold in the morning, and then again sitting at a light at idle, there is a strong smell coming in through the AC ducts. Smells like engine blowby. Have checked all hoses, PCV recirculating stuff etc, it all seems OK. Can't figure out how any engine byproduct can get immediately into the "fresh air" coming into the cabin. Engine doesn't burn oil, doesnt leak oil, nothing obvious, but the smell is strong and is somehow being pulled into the air handling system.

Any thoughts? Anybody else have this problem?

mthuss · Post by **mthuss** » 27 Mar 2003, 16:27

I have a 1994 850 Turbo Wagon - with what seems to be the same problem. I don't get it all the time though and can't seem to find the cause. Have you found out anything yet?

Matt

Antti · Post by **Antti** » 02 Apr 2003, 02:51

I think that the smell is caused when turbo is leaking a little bit of oil and it burns on the hot turbo and exhaust.

Usually every Volvo leaks oil from turbo with that mileage.

mthuss · Post by **mthuss** » 02 Apr 2003, 13:54

I've read on this site that there are smaller hoses connecting to the Turbo unit that break down over time from the oil. Is this the same problem your speaking about or are you referring to the actual Turbo unit leaking oil? Thanks for the help.

matt

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Apr 2003, 15:40

Have you looked (popped the hood) for the problem when you encounter it? Any smoke in the engine bay?

mthuss · Post by **mthuss** » 02 Apr 2003, 19:13

It seems to come up when I have driven the car for a longer period of time (enough to get the engine hot). The smell doesn't come until I get back in the car a little while later, but while it is still warm. There is no sign of any smoke. Thoughts?

matt

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Apr 2003, 20:05

I'd get it warm on a nice sunny, still day. Then I'd pop the hood and start looking, listening, and smelling around, with the engine off. There's no obvious item that I know of.

bpeckm · Post by **bpeckm** » 03 Apr 2003, 11:14

mine was the original post on this...
my smell starts immediately on startup, with engine cold (well, as cold as it gets in Florida!) or hot, and is noticeable only at idle. The smell is immediate i.e. not leaking oil on a hot pipe, more like engine blowby smell. the hoses have all been checked, including vacuum lines, etc, and we can find nothing obvious. the smell is quite obvious, and occurs while waiting at a light or anytime the engine is running but not moving. Very puzzling.

The other thought that I have is that the air intakes for the cabin heat/AC are actually isolated from the engine compartment, so that (theoretically) the engine gases shouldnt get into the air intakes. I wonder if there is some vacuum line or control line that goes from the engine compartment into the heating.cooling ductwork inside the cabin!

bob p

Post by **matthew1** » 03 Apr 2003, 11:25

I'll give the same advice as two above... I would start with simple careful close-up observation of the origin of the problem -- look, listen and smell the engine compartment with the engine off. Perhaps it will jump out at you.

If that was fruitless, I'd look in my Haynes manual for ducting charts and any culprits, like tracing the cabin heat ducting.

If that was fruitless, I'd take it in and have the dealer find out what's wrong. Then tell them you don't have the money for the repair (because it will certainly be roughly 50% more than your net worth) and go home and do it yourself

.

93&97 850's · Post by **93&97 850's** » 28 Apr 2003, 10:22

check the hose that goes into the flame trap, this disconect super easy,
then engine compartent will smell of oil but no leaks,

this happened to me

good luck