Smelly CQ

[Brett Dikeman]

On Nov 2, 2006, at 12:49 PM, Brendan wrote:

> On Thursday 02 November 2006 12:15, John Cassidy wrote:
>> Greetings!
>>
>> Has anyone ever had suspicious smells in a Coupe Quattro?  Patient  
>> is a
>> late build with 140 kmi.  We've been trying to locate the cause for
>> months.  Smells like smoke, but not really like oil, not  
>> anitfreeze, and
>> not even exhaust smoke, to my old car nose anyway.  It's at its  
>> worst at
>> idle with the climate control on heat, A/C or defrost.  I cannot find
>> any noticable fluid leaks, and the exhaust appears tight.
>>
>> My mechanic (really good guy) found an oil leak at the back of the  
>> valve
>> cover, so he steam cleaned it and repace the VC gasket, but to no  
>> avail?
>> It's going to the muffler shop tomorrow for an inspection.  In the  
>> mean
>> time, if anyone has a BTDT, I'm all ears!
>
> Are you sure that it's not exhaust? The breather hose often gets  
> sucked shut,
> cracks and let's in exhaust gas...

Breather hose failure- I guarantee you will know it, at least under  
load.

Bonnie Royal's 90q20v blew the hose at the track and she gave me a  
ride for a session.  We lasted about 5-10 minutes before our eyes  
were watering+burning.  This was with the CC off and front windows  
down, doing over-highway speeds...ie, lots of fresh air coming in.

The smell/burning was VERY strong under full throttle, when blow-by  
is strongest.

Brett