1984 1.9l smells strong at idle

krusovice · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: 1984 1.9l smells strong at idle

Hi
I got the van out of storage the other day, and had a great drive home. I sure missed the old bus this winter.

I got home and backed it into the garage, and noticed that the exhaust smells quite strong. I am not sure what it smells like, but it doesn't smell like oil burning, or like rotten eggs. Perhaps very rich?

It is a stock 1.9 liter. Heads were done about 57k miles ago (which was a LONG time ago, now...VW paid half!)

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

msinabottle · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:11 am Post subject: Catalytic Converter

Sounds to me like your catalytic converter may have seen better days. I'd have that checked, or learn how to check it for function yourself.

Best!
_________________
'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."

krusovice · Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:45 am Post subject:

Is there an easy way to test that?

There is no appreiable loss of power (HA! power in a 1.9!), and the cat doesn't rattle like the element is bad.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Mark

morymob · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:48 am Post subject:

Just coming out of storage,old gas and maybe no stabilizer in it i would give a good run to have eng norm temps for awhile and after old gas used up then start,maybe all thats needed.

krusovice · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:09 am Post subject:

As I remember, it smelled like this last year, too.

But this gives me a good excuse to go for a drive Laughing

tikibus · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Three things:

1) The Vanagon/VW smell has built up and caused your nostrils to go, "yum", I need to go driving/camping, alot.

2) Seals on the head contracted and weeped a bit of coolant out and now burning it off.

3) Oil from the oil breather tower settled on the motor and now is burning off.

Combined, makes for a elixir of memories. don't sweat it. check the levels and hoses, good times await.

The Cat don't do squat. Mine's gone after 2 years.
_________________
Happy Trails!
Mark
______________
Founding member of the Empire State VW Camping Club.
http://www.empirevwcamping.org/
1984 Westy - Tiki
1997 Honda Civic -The Green Hornet
1971 Volvo P-1800E- needs TLC


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