jimxo

After driving my car hard I stopped and got out of my car with the motor running and smelled a rotten egg smell coming of the car. Is that normal or due I need to have it checked out?

Daddy-O

Sounds like you're running a tad on the lean air/fuel ratio mixture side. There are sulfur compounds found in all gasolines. In a lean engine these compounds are broken down into simpler form, most notably Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) which is changed into Sulfur Trioxide, (SO3) in the catalytic converter. This SO3 will build up until a rich air/fuel mixture occurs in an engine, such as slowing down and stopping at a red light,or going uphill where the engine is working a little harder and calling for more fuel. At that point, the SO3 is changed to H2S, (Hydrogen Sulfide), the "rotten egg odor gas" and exits out of the exhaust pipe. There is nothing that is "out of adjustment" or not working correctly.
or
You have an ignition problem.
Your fuel pressure regulator is bad.
Your fuel injectors are clogged or dirty.
The engine is running too hot.
02 sensor needs checking.
Catalytic converter going bad.

On the other hand, did you fill up with some strange gasoline? Some have a higher sulfur content than others. Perhaps some gas treatment, like Techron...and fill up next with a different brand of gasoline.

Good luck.

edit-sp.

Vlad_Stein

Or something crawled up your engine compartment, made a nest and died

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

Not unusual especially if your car doesn't have that many miles on it. The cat converter is what creates the smell. It's probably no big deal at all.

jimxo

I always use BP Amoco 93 octane. I may mentioned it to the dealer next time I'm in for service.

I have 20,100 miles on the car.

Lexus of Manhattan

I have the same problem on my car and my brother's IS300.. Bear in mind that they do change the formula for gas in the winter months, that could have something to do with it..Oddly, parent's RX300 doesn't smell bad at all...Just the 2 in-line 6 cars.. Oh well
Ed

Cosm

Maybe you forgot you ate eggs and passed gas and it followed you outside of your car ? you know when you fart that you have to cut it off or it will trail you

LSPiNoY

iTrader: (1)

thats crucial


btw......check if that smell is coming from your a/c vents...i remember my bro buying a 4th hand honda civic hatch...and when his vent was opened it smelled nasty....lol