A rotten egg smell in your car often indicates
a malfunctioning part in the fuel system
. If the catalytic converter, fuel filters, or fuel pressure sensors are worn out or damaged, a sulfur gas can leak out and make its way into your car’s cabin.
How do I get the rotten egg smell out of my exhaust?
The best way to remove the smell of rotten eggs from your car is to replace the faulty part causing the smell. This could be a
catalytic converter
, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, or even old transmission fluid. Once the appropriate part gets replaced, the smell should disappear.
What causes rotten egg smell in exhaust?
Sulfur/Rotten Egg Smell in Exhaust
If your exhaust has the distinct noxious smell of rotten eggs, sulfur, or sewer gas, it’s likely due to
a damaged catalytic converter
. When combustion happens in your engine, harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide (which contains sulfur) are created.
Does my exhaust smell like rotten eggs?
If you notice a rotten egg smell while your vehicle is running, it could mean a few things. The most common cause is
a broken catalytic converter
. Driving with a broken one can lead to higher temperatures in your exhaust system, which can ultimately lead to a car fire. …
What does smelly exhaust mean?
Smelly car exhaust fumes mean that
something is going wrong
. It could be leaking fluids, a failing catalytic converter, or imbalanced air/fuel mix.
What are the signs of a bad catalytic converter?
- Your Check Engine Light is On. …
- A Rattling Noise In the Engine. …
- You’re Getting Fewer Miles Per Gallon. …
- Your Car Jerks Forward, Loses Fuel During Acceleration, Or Stalls Out. …
- Engine Misfires.
What does a bad catalytic converter smell like?
Over time, the catalytic converter can become overheated, contaminated with gasoline in the exhaust or simply wear out. When this happens, you’re likely to notice
a rotten egg, sulphurous smell coming
from the exhaust. You may even smell it in the cabin.
Can I drive my car if it smells like rotten eggs?
3. Rotten Egg Smell Coming from Car Vents. … If the catalytic converter, fuel filters, or fuel pressure sensors are worn out or damaged, a
sulfur gas can leak out
and make its way into your car’s cabin. This smell isn’t just unpleasant—like the other ones we’ve highlighted, it can be dangerous if left unaddressed.
Can a bad O2 sensor cause rotten egg smell?
Damaged O2 Sensor
If one (or more) of the oxygen sensors in your car is damaged,
your engine may be using too much fuel and not enough air
. This could also cause the exhaust to smell like sulfur or rotten eggs, so the presence of this smell alone isn’t enough to determine what the underlying problem is.
How do I fix a smelly catalytic converter?
The smell is usually caused from gasoline brand. It can take five fill ups to clean out the smell from a catalytic converter. I would run the gas tank down to just under 1/4, switch the brand and gasoline grade to a higher
octane
. The higher the octane the hotter and cleaner the gas burns.
How long can you drive with a bad catalytic converter?
A Catalytic Converter Can Be
Driven Indefinitely
Driving
with a bad catalytic converter is not too dangerous. If some small parts of your catalytic converter is plugged, you can still drive your car as usual.
How do you get rid of smelly exhaust?
- Change Your Oil and Oil Filter Regularly. Oil helps to lubricate your vehicle, keeping its parts clean, prevent overheating, and minimize excess wear due to friction. …
- Change Your Fuel Filter Regularly. …
- Change Your Air Filter Regularly. …
- Change Your PCV Valve Regularly. …
- Drive Smartly!
Why does my exhaust smell so strong?
If you notice a very strong exhaust smell in the car then you probably have a
leak in the exhaust system
. There may be a hole in the exhaust pipe, tailpipe, or muffler. … If carbon monoxide is leaking into your car this is serious as this chemical is highly toxic to humans.
What does rich exhaust smell like?
One of the first things you may notice is a strong smell of
fuel or rotten egg smell
from the exhaust. This is due to excess fuel not being burned properly in the combustion process and escaping into the exhaust manifold and ultimately out of your tailpipe.
Does a bad catalytic converter make noise?
Your catalytic converter consists of small, honeycomb-shaped components that can cause a
rattling sound when broken
. If your catalytic converter is broken, this rattling should be loudest when the car starts, and should get worse over time.
How much does it cost to fix a catalytic converter?
Catalytic converter replacement isn’t cheap. For most vehicles, the average cost of a catalytic converter repair is
between $945 and $2475
including parts and labor. The catalytic converter cost itself can be up to $2250 of that. That might be close to your car’s value or more!
