1985-1998 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
One easily overlooked area that can result in exhaust-like smells entering the cabin is the PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation) system developing a leak.
Briefly, when you run your engine, the crankcase will contain amounts of oil vapor from various sources, and if it is not ventilated, the crankcase can become pressurized (like a pressure cooker, due to the heat trapped inside). In the old days, these vapors were simply vented to the atmosphere. Nowadays for environmentally-sensitive purposes, the fumes are vented into the car's intake manifold to be burned along with the fuel/air mixture.
Oil vapors do smell very similar to exhaust gases, so it's possible this is what you're smelling. A very common occurrence is for the PCV nipple to pop out of its home, or one of the hoses to pop off this nipple, allowing the crankcase to vent to atmosphere.
To check this, open your hood and look at the top of your engine. Standing in front of the car looking back toward the windshield, look at the black metal top cover of the engine (the valve cover). On your left side, on the back of the valve cover, you'll see two hoses, one large and one small, connected to a black plastic nipple which is connected to the valve cover. These hoses will lead along the back of the valve cover to your right and into the intake manifold.
It's common, as I said, for the nipple to pop out of the valve cover, because a rubber grommet in the valve cover breaks down over time. In this case, one just replaces the grommet (about $3) and pops the nipple back into place.
Alternatively, one of the hoses may have come off the nipple (or the nipple may have broken off here). Usually this is the smaller diameter hose.
Look around and see what you find in this area. It's not unusual for people to overlook this as a culprit since they're thinking the exhaust system will be to blame, so perhaps this is your only issue.
On 9-5s, I would certainly advise familiarizing yourself with the list of common symptoms these cars can suffer, but as Paul has noted, these have been considered one of the most reliable European nameplates since their introduction, and one that's been well looked after would be a fine car I would think.
posted by 155.212.49...
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