smell of diesel fumes inside the cabin

[Smeeagain]

Recently I have noticed a smell of diesel fumes when the car is stationary with engine running (at lights etc)

It's a 2004 3.0 D Auto - has anyone experienced this or got any pointers as to what to look for - poking around under the engine and car I cannot determine any exhaust blowing or leaks

Smee

[mikem]

I'd put money on it being a cracked manifold

[Smeeagain]

I'd be inclined to agree but not found any evidence yet - would that issues manifest itself in any other way - loss of power, noise, etc ?

[X5Sport]

You might hear added noise, especially under power.  Trouble is it's not convenient to get at it easily.  You could try a strip of tissue paper on the end of an opened wire coat hanger and see if it 'puffs' anywhere along the manifold.

Richard

[Smeeagain]

Thanks - care to hazard a guess at potential repair cost and if the manifold needs to come off are there any other jobs to consider having done at the same time ?

[mikem]

Get a cast iron replacement from eBay for £156 (£300 incl fitting if your near Selby) it's about a 3Hr job.

If you start it on a Cold morning with the bonnet up and give it a good rev you might see the smoke depending on how big the crack is. I had no loss of power or noise when mine had gone but the wife had been complaining of a sore throat for weeks - I drove it for the first time in months and smelt it straightaway.

[Smeeagain]

Thanks - any other jobs worth doing at the same time ?

[Smeeagain]

hellooooooo ........????

[Horizon]

Crankcase breather to see if it's a vortex one or not, air filter too

[Smeeagain]

It's vortex already and air filter recently done as it happens

Could the fumes in the cabin be caused by anything else?

[X5Sport]

Make sure the a/c assembly in front of the screen is fully home and the seals intact.  You would have had to remove it to do the vortex and air filter.

Check all hoses and the exhaust itself in case it's not seated correctly.  And have a look at the intake side too in case anything is adrift on the air side of the turbo.  It's less likely but still worth a look just in case.

Richard

[Smeeagain]

Actually I noticed the other day that the black plastic clip screw things that hold the air filter housing were all loose but I couldn't get any of them locate/secure properly
Smee

[mikem]

The little twist clips that hold the cover for the micro filter on are a pain, I need to replace some of ours but that shouldn't be the cause of the smell. The exhaust side is sealed and fumes should only come out of the tailpipe.

Other things I was told to check when changing the manifold are the vacuum lines but mine seemed fine.
Some Indy's are doing the manifold from underneath now, which gives less chance to check other stuff.

[Smeeagain]

[quote="Smeeagain"]
Recently I have noticed a smell of diesel fumes when the car is stationary with engine running (at lights etc)

It's a 2004 3.0 D Auto - has anyone experienced this or got any pointers as to what to look for - poking around under the engine and car I cannot determine any exhaust blowing or leaks

Smee
[/quote]

Turns out is is indeed a cracked exhaust manifold

Smee

[Smeeagain]

It's now been replaced. Cast iron manifold from fleabay at £156 inc vat and delivery. Fitted by local Indy for 150 plus vat. £336 all in.

Will post pics when I get a chance - there were two cracks one either side of the centre exhaust output. One was along the seam, the other was more random and perpendicular to the seam.

Smee