Gas Smell From Exhaust When Cold

[Paul Sherman]

Hi all;

I'm wondering if this is normal during start up.

I get the smell of raw gas from the exhaust when I first start up

my '93 LS400. I noticed it last Friday when I was warming it up

and chipping the ice off the car after Thursday's exciting storm.

Is this a normal cold engine issue or, is it time to start digging

into the fuel/ignition system?

[SKperformance]

You will smell gas on cold start up

1 becuase it is cold it is using a higher amount of fuel to run.

2 the catalytic convertors are not hot yet so the gas will be passing through them until it is up to operating temperature.

Also a faulty ignition coil or injector can also be a problem to enhance the issue.

[nc211]

mine does the same, always has. i think because it's cold, the engine's computer has the car running rich to make sure everthing gets lubricated in the crucial "warming up" stage. I have to open the garage door to let the car warm up, otherwise I gas up the joint...and not the taco-bell kind :whistles:

[Paul Sherman]

Cool, thanks for the prompt replies, this group is the greatest.

My wife had noticed it when she sat in the rear passenger seat

once and I first started the car. Her nose is incredibly sensitive,

so I didn't know if it was a bit of venting from the tank or

spillage, or....

Now I can reassure her that it's normal, the car's NOT about to

explode.

[dcfish]

mine does the same, always has. i think because it's cold, the engine's computer has the car running rich to make sure everthing gets lubricated in the crucial "warming up" stage. I have to open the garage door to let the car warm up, otherwise I gas up the joint...and not the taco-bell kind :whistles:

"and not the taco-bell kind" Maybe the cheeto/beer kind.

[nc211]

"and not the taco-bell kind" Maybe the cheeto/beer kind.

Ahhhhh.....Dinner...mmmm...Dinner....

Fabreeze...Ahhhhhh....Desert...mmmm...Desert..

[handygal]

I have this every day with my '98. It is more pronounced when it's cold, but I smell it when it's 80 outside as well. Every morning. I try to back up out of the stinky garage pretty quickly in the morning, I don't sit around and play with the radio or anything until I'm out in the open because the half-burned gas smell is so strong.

I have no advice to offer. My mechanic wasn't impressed with the question, I think he likes "real" problems. :)

[Threadcutter]

"and not the taco-bell kind" Maybe the cheeto/beer kind.

Ahhhhh.....Dinner...mmmm...Dinner....

Fabreeze...Ahhhhhh....Desert...mmmm...Desert..

Gawd!............................Stop Already!...................

[nc211]

What's wrong?? The "initial" boys stinkin' up the joint? From DC to NC...w/o PC.

[dcfish]

What's wrong?? The "initial" boys stinkin' up the joint? From DC to NC...w/o PC.

"The "initial" boys" Does this mean we're marked for life ?

Are we still on topic ?