2010 v50 Exhaust odor just at start-up

[packetfire]

Weird... start the car, get a whiff of exhaust.

But it goes away in seconds.

Cold car, warmed up engine, car that's been driven for hours, and stopped at a rest stop - all the same.

I know that the climate control system wants to default to "Automatic" on the air re-circulation, but why should there be ANY exhaust smell at the front of the car, even briefly?

Can't be evap or pvc - no codes from the car at all. Has to be the manifold... but how to find the leak? Maybe a non-contact thermometer to look for the hottest area on an otherwise cold engine and exhaust manifold? Any suggestions for the 2.4 liter 5-cylinder?

[dudeitssm]

Hi packet.

This was (and still kind of is) an issue in our other vehicle, a 2005 CRV AWD. There is a moderate exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold.

> but how to find the leak?

The way I found it out was by running a shop vac in reverse, so it blew air out, and plugging the hose into the car tailpipe and taping it snug.
Then, I sprayed soap water all over the exhaust section--muffler, pipes from and to the CAT from the manifold. Any leaks will make bubbles.

ChrisFix on YouTube has more details about the procedure.
But mainly, you want to make sure your shop vac filter is clean before you start blowing air thru your exhaust system.