Fumes in my S14's cockpit

[macross]

Fumes in my 240's cockpit
Alright, I'm getting kinda tired of this. Ever since I SR swapped my 240sx, I've been getting fumes in my cockpit when I'm driving any speed with my windows down.

The things i've done:

-Checked all exhaust gaskets from turbo back. (installed new gaskets)
-Checked for leaks around the turbo. (visual, and starting the car with me under it.
-Checked aerodynamics with wing removed (no change)
-Checked fuel rail (removed rail while still connected, turned key on, and charged rail. No leaks. Car runs fine.) (injector o-rings new when engine installed)
-Fuel system is hooked up to the OEM charcoal canister.
-Valve cover is vented back into the intake.
-No big leaks anywhere, in fact I've pretty much stopped all leaks (no oil, gear oil, coolant, etc.)
-No smell at all with the windows rolled up.


I just don't get it. I feel like I've covered all the bases. Even when a car leaks oil, coolant, or has a small exhaust leak it doesn't fill the cabin with fumes. The only thing i can think of is possibly the ceramic coating on the turbine side of the turbo, exhaust manifold, and turbo extension, burning off. I had this coated with the gray coating from cool coatings and it's a kinda powdery off-gray now. The black coating on the manifold and turbo heat shields hasn't discolored at all. The coating has been on there for 12k miles.

Anyone have any ideas?

[slomar91]

Are you running a test pipe?

[macross]

Yes, 3" resonated with a new o2 sensor. No smoke the exhaust though, black, blue, or white.

I had another s14 before this one with a very similar setup (s13sr, full exhaust, etc.) and didn't have any fumes?

[Sileighty_85]

is it comming in from the windows?

Or do you have the two rubber boots over the shifter?

Does your exhaust extend all the way out the back of the bumper?

[mattack69]

voting on test pipe theory

[macross]

it has all three boots over top of the shifter. it only smells when the windows are down the exhaust extends out the rear, it is a Trust jasma 2 piece full polished stainless unit.

It has a walbro 255lph pump using the stock 370cc injectors and stock fpr.


This is just really odd to me, I've never had this issue with any of the 10+ cars i've owned. and I literally feel like I've gone over this thing 20 times. I should be able to find a leak that it making me nauseous driving down the rd.

[slow_sr20]

i have the same issue with my s14, although it is not swapped. it is just a ka, and the valve stem seals are bad, as it does smoke around town. If i am on the highway, and i have the windows down i can smell exhaust/burning. if i put the windows up the smell goes away. i have full exhaust and a cat. Even if i just tilt open the sunroof i get odors inside the cabin-at 70 plus going down the highway. I have never had this issue before, and have owned 3 other 14's and one 13. any input would be greatly appreciated! i know valve seals are the best solution, but i would rather just shove some foam into somewhere than put valve stem seals in right now:wan:

[silentstyle1]

Did you replace the rubber gasket that goes to the fuel pump cover inside the car? may sound stupid, but you'd be amazed at how a little thing like that would cause such a crazy smell.

[BKangS14]

haha..I smell the richness of my car when driving i never thought it was a major issue just thought it was the way the wind was blowing or something crazy like that. I just try to ignore it

[Rabboni]

Are you smelling gasoline fumes, or burnt exhaust fumes, or just unidentifiable, weird smell?
If you are smelling gas then my vote is to make sure that the canister is functioning properly, and doesnt have any cracks or loose charcoal inside.

[macross]

I didn't replace the rubber gasket, but that thing was on TIGHT. plus i run the metal cover over it, and further still, i never smell anything inside the cabin with the windows up. This engine was freshly built to oem standards using a nissan oem gasket set. stock t25 with all lock plates and oem studs/washers/nuts in place.


It has to be exhaust, fuel vapor, or the ceramic coating burning off the turbo.

My car shouldn't be running rich with it being on the stock turbo, 14psi, stock injectors, stock fpr, and factory ecu? I get no smoking of any sort out the exhaust. I've even removed the exhaust, inspected it, and put it back on with new hangers and gaskets.


I'm not really sure what I'm smelling, sometimes it smells more like fuel than others, but either way, it makes you nauseous and cough sometimes.



On the charcoal canister i am only using the fuel vent delivery and return. I was under the impression that the vent for the fuel tank goes to the non one-way valve portion of the canister. Then you have the drain/exit at the bottom that is then connected to the line that is next to the fuel vent line. it has a one-way valve too, to suck in air if needed. Then there is the one-way valve portion of the canister, I am currently not using. I have the vacuum line blocked off under the throttle body. If I was going to use this there would be a line running from the throttle body to the top part of the one way valve with another one-way valve in that line. the bottom part of that line would run to the valve cover/ stock emissions components that are no longer there, and have nothing to do with fuel. Is that correct?

[modulation]

Do you have an stripped interior?
I know you said you checked gaskets, but what about the ones that are on the test-pipe? I had a leak pre-cat and it was similar description to your problem.

[vas570sx]

yea, i changed my fuel pump and i still havent put the 4 bolt fuel pump cover back on. i get a fuel smell with the windows down and not up. my opinion? get some silicone or whatever and make sure that there is a good seal around that cover.

[nujabe]

did you check the turbo outlet? i had the same problem and it turned out that there was a bolt missing to hold the turbo out let down tighter .

[DFWZenki]

Not sure what your problem is but ive noticed that when there is a weird smell from the engine bay or tranny area and the the windows are cracked or all the way down, a air current is created coming through the shifter hole and out the windows. So if you have anything putting off a unusual smell, It get pulled right by you on its way out the window.

I had a gear fluid leak on my tranny one time around the drain plug, It was really obvious when the windows were cracked or down. It sucked the smell right by my face and out the windows. Used gear fluid stinks.

[SR20Driftking4lyf]

I smell fumes in my S14 but only when im sitting at a light burning rich at idle, im pretty sure its just blowing in the car. However one time I found that my greddy turbo outlet was not sealed up cause a few nuts had backed off the studs like stated above....might want to check that.

[Weedm]

are you running an open wastegate?

[tr0n9h]

was wondering were you able to fix this smell problems? i have the same problem in my s14.

[jbballa9876]

I have the problem but i already know my fuel line is leaking a little bit, i hate it gotta just fix it