The smell of exhaust is not a normal one to encounter in the cabin in your car--or at least it shouldn't be. If you've noticed this smell, it could mean that something is wrong with your vehicle (though, as you'll see below, this isn't always necessarily the case). Keep reading to learn more about what might cause this smell; then, schedule an appointment at an authorized Subaru service center to have the problem inspected and fixed.
4. Rule Out Other Vehicles
The first thing you'll want to do if you smell exhaust in the cabin is to make sure that it's not coming from another car. Particularly if you're at an intersection or in a parking lot, the exhaust from another car might come through your HVAC system. If this is the case, the smell will dissipate once the other vehicle moves away from you.
3. An Exhaust Leak Is the Likely Cause
Once you've ruled out another vehicle, the most likely cause of an exhaust smell in your car's cabin is an exhaust leak. The gasses produced by your engine normally escape through the exhaust pipe. A leak in this system means that it's also escaping somewhere else. The exhaust system is big, stretching practically the whole length of your vehicle. This means that pinpointing the source of the leak can be difficult, especially since it can be caused by a number of different things like loose joints, corrosion, and physical damage.
2. Pay Attention to the Timing of the Smell
Exhaust leaks can happen just about anywhere throughout the system. However, when you smell exhaust can sometimes help you figure out where the leak is coming from. If you smell exhaust all the time, it's likely coming from near the front of the system. This could be due to physical damage, or it could be related to the exhaust manifold gasket. If you only smell it when you're idling, chances are it's nearer to the back of the system.
1. Stop Driving
An exhaust leak is dangerous. It might be tempting to drive your car to a dealership when you smell exhaust, but we recommend calling for a tow truck, instead. Breathing exhaust fumes can give you carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition to other unpleasant symptoms, this can cause dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, and even loss of consciousness. As you can imagine, having some of these symptoms while driving can be disastrous. Don't put your life in danger: have exhaust leaks checked out right away.
Capitol Subaru of Salem
920 Auto Group Ave NE
Salem, OR 97301
- Sales: 503-587-5500
- Service: 503-587-5500
- Parts: 503-587-5500
