Exhaust smells like ether and alcohol...

[rothsean]

So sometimes when I sit at a stoplight for 30 seconds or longer and get going, I will sometimes smell as strong ether smell with a hint of rubbing alcohol. Then it goes away as I get moving. I don't always smell this, maybe 1 of every 20 stops.

I have narrowed down the smell to definitely exhaust. When I stopped and turned the car off I put my nose to the exhaust pipe and smelled the same smell fairly strong.


Any ideas??

Also, is the LAMBDA sensor and LAMBDA sensor/switch the same part?

[DMCMW Dave]

Ethanol in your gas. Try a different brand.


So sometimes when I sit at a stoplight for 30 seconds or longer and get going, I will sometimes smell as strong ether smell with a hint of rubbing alcohol. ?

[outatym2001]

When listening to the radio show Car Talk a person called in asking, "Why does my exhaust smell like rotten eggs?" It was explained that it depended on the sulphur content of the fuel and it's reaction with your catalytic converter. If you switch brands of gasoline the smell will go away.
So Rothsean it's my guess the smell will go away when you switch to a different brand of gas.
Have you owned this D for very long and how long has it been since the catalytic converter has been replaced? Seems like something a brand new cat might start doing and not an old original one that has high miles???

I hollowed out my cat and put it back into place since emission testing is not required on a thirty year old car where I live. I don't get those smells you're describing.

I guess the LAMBDA sensor and LAMBDA sensor/switch are the same thing as the stock DeLorean has only one LAMBDA sensor (called Lambda Probe in the Parts Manual). I'm not a auto mechanic so that's my uneducated guess.

Dam! DMCMW Dave beat me to the answer. I gotta learn to type faster.

[Bitsyncmaster]

The Lambda probe (O2 sensor) is not a switch but provides a voltage of about 0.5 volts when your mixture is at 1.00 Lambda. There is a cold temp switch that shares the same circuit as the WOT throttle switch that drive the lambda to run richer. So either that temp switch or WOT will run the FV at 60 % duty cycle which should relate to a richer mixture.

[Nicholas R]

I agree with everyone, quit using the gas you're using. Sounds like its extra spiked with ethanol.

[rothsean]

I agree with everyone, quit using the gas you're using. Sounds like its extra spiked with ethanol.

I have been using Chevron