Exhaust Fumes

[lazabby]

I park nose first into the garage but despite this, when I first start my car and back out, it fills the garage with exhaust fumes. This has been a common complaint with owners but has anyone ever come up with a way to minimize this? Perhaps I'm running rich, I don't know. Also lately there has been a slight burnt smell when I start the car and I'm wondering if I may be burning oil. Besides a drop in the oil level how could I tell?

[stevedmc]

Have you checked for exhaust leaks?

[jmettee]

If you're still running the original cat converter, it's likely that. They were not made to last 30 years as they were early in the days of emissions. After I replaced mine, it smelled like our other modern cars (i.e. No more smell).

[WelmoedJ]

I park nose first into the garage but despite this, when I first start my car and back out, it fills the garage with exhaust fumes. This has been a common complaint with owners but has anyone ever come up with a way to minimize this? Perhaps I'm running rich, I don't know. Also lately there has been a slight burnt smell when I start the car and I'm wondering if I may be burning oil. Besides a drop in the oil level how could I tell?

A drop in the oil level is normal for older cars.
Even new cars cobsune a bit of oil.
If it's no more than about 1/4 of a quart between oil changes, you should be okay.

[David T]

Check the rear, left side of the motor. If it is oily the sender for the oil light is leaking and that could be what you smell. A PRV that is taken care of should not burn or leak much oil. You should be able to go from oil change to oil change without adding more than 1/2 quart of oil if any. Make sure you are using the correct type. If you are running very rich during warm-up check the vacuum hoses around the Control Pressure Regulator (aka warm-up regulator). The electrical element inside may be bad and the CPR itself may be malfunctioning. If the car doesn't run well or take the gas during warm-up the CPR should probably be replaced. You can confirm that with a fuel pressure gauge. Make sure the vacuum advance is also working as it should. What is your gas mileage? That will tell you if you are running too rich.
David Teitelbaum

[lazabby]

Check the rear, left side of the motor. If it is oily the sender for the oil light is leaking and that could be what you smell. A PRV that is taken care of should not burn or leak much oil. You should be able to go from oil change to oil change without adding more than 1/2 quart of oil if any. Make sure you are using the correct type. If you are running very rich during warm-up check the vacuum hoses around the Control Pressure Regulator (aka warm-up regulator). The electrical element inside may be bad and the CPR itself may be malfunctioning. If the car doesn't run well or take the gas during warm-up the CPR should probably be replaced. You can confirm that with a fuel pressure gauge. Make sure the vacuum advance is also working as it should. What is your gas mileage? That will tell you if you are running too rich.
David Teitelbaum

Actually the car runs well after it's started. Very little hunting. I don't know what gas mileage is. One thing it could be, is I had to add some additives a few months back because I suspect that I had a bad tank of gas. I've only put in 1/2 a tank since then. Perhaps the additives are giving it a bad smell? I need to use up the current tank of gas and put in some fresh gas.