smell like battery acid

[Doyt W. Echelberger]

The exhaust gases contain sulfuric acid when you use high sulfur gasoline 
and run a rich mixture. Running the car hard uses WOT enrichment. The 
catalytic converter participates in manufacturing that acid from the raw 
exhaust gases coming to it from the engine.

Possibly using a different brand of fuel would change things some, but I 
don't see it as a bad thing, except those fumes tend to corrode the exhaust 
system metal.

In summary, your story sounds like a rich mixture to me, rather than a 
problem with the charging system. As you say, the charging voltage is about 
normal. I'd look for reasons for the engine not burning the mixture 
efficiently, such as low compression, possibly due to rings/and-or 
valves,       plus factors that contribute to an overly rich mixture. 
Another symptom you might look for is lots of carbon at the tailpipe.

Doyt
 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
At 01:12 PM 1/30/01 -0500, you wrote:

>I got a 1986 audi coupe gt.
>
>when i stop the car after a good ride it smell like battery acid.
>
>i think its the voltage regulator who charge to much my battery but on the
>voltmeter it apear ok 13volt
>
>can something else can smell like boiling battery acid?
>
>thanks