Volvo 850 Strong odor through vents

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 02 Jul 2014, 21:16

I have a strong odor coming through vents. I checked by the turbo to see any visible leaks and nothing. Only thing i can think of is the exhaust manifold gaskets need changing or the manifold is cracked. Any suggestions MVS?

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Jul 2014, 21:30

Exhaust odor, I take it?

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 02 Jul 2014, 21:46

@ matthew .... I guess, can't be anything else

Post by **matthew1** » 02 Jul 2014, 22:13

Idle with the hood up. Check from there.

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 02 Jul 2014, 23:43

Engine heat is tremendous with vehicle on and hood open. Idle with hood open, then what?

Post by **abscate** » 03 Jul 2014, 04:44

Listen with garden hose around the exhaust manifold for the whoosh Woosh whoosh sound of a leak...

Post by **Ben850** » 03 Jul 2014, 05:13

Pull the oil dipstick with the engine running and check for smoke.
When I took ownership of my '93 the PCV was severely clogged and the whole car stunk horribly of crankcase fumes. It smells like exhaust and burnt oil.

Also, it had no cabin air filter. I imagine you don't either.

Has the PCV system been done on this car?

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 03 Jul 2014, 06:34

@ ben850... Pcv recently done when timing components were changed. Even after pcv change, vehicle still had smoking dipstick. My boy from volvo said the piston rings are worn which causes blow by gases. I also installed the retainer and cabin filter. I used to drive with my dipstick sticking up a lil which the odor was worst, now i just keep it flush with the tube. Gave me and passengers headaches

Post by **matthew1** » 03 Jul 2014, 12:12

You may be breathing carbon monoxide when driving.

I know you know this, and you don't need a lecture: Just tell me how to fix the damn thing.

My hood up/idle suggestion was to allow your senses to have at it on pinpointing a location for the leak. Look for exhaust (esp. on start up), sniff around, and listen with a garden hose (good idea, Steve).

Please be careful driving. This is scary stuff IMHO.

Baptiste1106 · Post by **Baptiste1106** » 03 Jul 2014, 14:56

@ matthew1 ... Thanks for the concern. Trust me i'm not taking this lightly at all. I'm still a lil confused about the garden hose method. I'm new to the forum mechanical terminology so school me teachers. I've done it all to pcv, oil line rebuild, stage 0, etc.... So i'm sure this is some simple thing. Please give step by step instructions on the garden hose method @ abscate @ matthew1