[s-cars] Lt. Stinky..

[rstoddard at shaw.ca]

My car also has the rotten egg smell occurring under the same circumstances and I also immediately though it was my cats.

I had the local dealer check out them out (without removing them) via backpressure test, codes, etc. and found that the backpressure is within normal specs with no codes coming up.  I was also told that the smell means that the cats are working as they should by burning off excess fuel.  I am still not convinced that they are ok and will be removing them soon and will let you know if I can 'see' any problems with them.

I have however found that the brand of fuel that is burned makes a huge difference (Esso's being the worst).  This difference is not limited to the smell either, but also pinging, hesitation etc.


Cheers
Robin


----- Original Message -----
From: CyberPoet <thecyberpoet at cyberpoet.net>
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2003 3:39 pm
Subject: Re: [s-cars] Lt. Stinky..

> Bjorn,
>
>    That rotten egg smell is your catalytic converter dying. If the
> smell is intensely of sulfer (i.e. - rotten eggs), it's the last smell
> it makes before
> it gives out (unfortunately, it can also mean that it gave out in
> a way
> as to partially or completely block the exhaust). Reason for the
> smell:usually is caused too much unburnt fuel reaching into the
> exhaustheaders and igniting there, and thus running the cat at too
> high a temp
> (causing the inside to melt). Bad oxygen sensor can cause excess fuel
> to reach the exhaust headers (among other reasons, such as poor spray
> patterns from the injectors).
>
> Can't believe no one else on the list caught this obvious sign...
>
> Good Luck!
> =-= Marc Glasgow
>
> On Friday, March 21, 2003, at 09:23 AM, s-car-list-
> request at audifans.comwrote:
>
> > After some spirited driving this morning, I pulled into the
> parking lot
> > where my wife should join her workmates (No no.. It's not what you
> > think, they just commute together!! ;o) and looked/sniffed at my
> S4's> exhaust. It had a gray/blueish tone, and smelt like rotten
> eggs. (It
> > does that from time to time..) The hint of blue turned
> completely gray
> > after just some minute of idle. It runs well, (timing belt ok)
> but has
> > a
> > somewhat poor mileage.
> > Guess it's time for a O2 sensor change after 210.000km?
> >
> > Bjorn  :o)
> > '92 S4
>
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