Exhaust Leak?

[RobertK]

Ever since I've had my E30 it's always had an exhaust like smell inside the car whenever I drive the car in a spirited manner or take it over 4k. I thought it was because my muffler and some of the exhaust (catback) was rusted out.

I finally had my muffler replaced this past weekend and I also had the catalytic converter cut off and replaced with straight pipes from the downpipes all the way back to the muffler.

Soon after I took it on a spirited drive and it still creates an exhuast like smell in the cabin of the car when I take the revs above 4k. What else could be causing the exhaust smell inside the car when I drive it like that?

[HST]

Maybe a leak at the headers?

[RobertK]

Maybe a leak at the headers?

Possibly.. surely I'm not the only one who has experienced this?

[silversleeper]

run a can of seafoam thru ur motor, and when it smoke, see if it smokes by ur header or near the cat, or any of the flanges.

[RobertK]

Well.. there is no cat nor any flanges except at the downpipe which I know has a new gasket.. I may just give it a try.

[rs4pro3]

Did you get all the old gasket scraped off? With the engine cold, start it up and run your hand around the manifolds feeling for any leaks. Are you sure it's not just a burnt oil smell? After I run my car hard smoke comes from under it for a good couple minutes But that's just the rear tranny seal leaking onto the exhuast.

[motorprestige]

My car also smells of burnt oil after a hard drive. It's old oil left over from when my vc gasket went and sprayed all over my block/exhaust manifolds.