Fuel smell from exhaust.

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
Sanchez
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7578
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Scotland

Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:20 pm

My cars(m20B25) running rich, exhaust fumes are petrol smell and light grey smoke out exhaust, not sure if its water vapour or not.

Ive tested the blue sensor at the ECU pin 45 and ground and when cold is 2.7ohms. Ive yet to test hot at the ECU but at the blue sensor it was a higher reading.

Idles fine, runs well otherwise, 300 motorway miles for 38liters means 35mpg. Around town its 200miles for 40ish liters, 22mpg approx.

Any ideas folks?
Grrrmachine
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
Posts: 8043
Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warsaw, Poland

Wed Jan 18, 2012 7:55 pm

2.7 ohms is way too low for the Blue Temp sensor. Proper testing procedure and results here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ug#Testing
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:22 pm

Grrrmachine wrote:2.7 ohms is way too low for the Blue Temp sensor. Proper testing procedure and results here:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ug#Testing
I think there may be a 'k' missing from that reading!
In any case, it's the hot reading that's more important.
Sanchez
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7578
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Scotland

Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:02 pm

correct Brian 2700ohms.

Should get a hot reading over the next few days but presuming its fine is there anything else?
e301988325i
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3701
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Taunton, Somerset

Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:07 pm

Sanchez wrote:My cars(m20B25) running rich, exhaust fumes are petrol smell and light grey smoke out exhaust, not sure if its water vapour or not.

Ive tested the blue sensor at the ECU pin 45 and ground and when cold is 2.7ohms. Ive yet to test hot at the ECU but at the blue sensor it was a higher reading.

Idles fine, runs well otherwise, 300 motorway miles for 38liters means 35mpg. Around town its 200miles for 40ish liters, 22mpg approx.

Any ideas folks?
Your mpg is healthy so this is likely an idle fuelling issue, I take it the exhaust smells rich at idle. It could be your TPS not registering the idle position or more likely your AFM that has been adjusted when it shouldn't have been. as your AFM lost it's small round plug on the top revealing an allen key adjustment underneath?

Does your car have a lambda sensor?
I said:

Can anyone suggest how to test if the boot lights are staying on with the boot shut?

e30topless said:

lock the wife in there
Sanchez
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7578
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Scotland

Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:36 pm

No Lambda, and the AFM has a red grommet on the top.

I think the adjusting screw still has its grommet on as well.
Image
User avatar
LLamaFarm
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:00 pm

Thu May 17, 2012 2:45 pm

im goning to resurect this and ask if there is any way to "set up" the afm adjustment, my car stinks with windows open, closed with blowers on its loverly!!! the ex manifold is ok and there is no apparent holes in the exhaust?!?!
Sanchez
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 7578
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Sunny Scotland

Thu May 17, 2012 5:30 pm

Maybe you have a fuel leak rather than overfueling.
Image
User avatar
LLamaFarm
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 87
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2011 11:00 pm

Fri May 18, 2012 7:56 am

i've ruled fuel leak out as it smells of exhaust not petrol, + ive just had tank and all lines replaced
mcbonio
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1868
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:00 pm

Fri May 18, 2012 1:17 pm

You can as far as I understand alter the idle mix (rich/lean) with the AFM hex screw. You do need an exhaust analyser however as an incorrect mix is bad for you engine and an MoT fail.

Are you sure no one hasn't already tampered with this screw?
User avatar
Billwill
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 363
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:00 pm
Location: South Africa

Fri May 18, 2012 1:35 pm

As stated check the mixture with an exhaust analyser and adjust the screw.
If the reading is way out then a previous owner may have opened the AFM and moved the position of the circular spring....moving it clockwise weakens the mixture and counter clockwise enriches it.
This should not normally done as it is set up at the factory but mark the position of the spring and move it by one notch if really needed! :eek:
mcbonio
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1868
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:00 pm

Fri May 18, 2012 1:49 pm

I wouldn't recommend doing this, it will bugger up your idle speed. The AFM was not designed to be opened and tampered with, its a very sensitive, calibrated device.!

I had the very same issue as you when I got my 325i. Ok gas mileage, rich idle exhaust, it stank. Especially on a cold start, wow it almost made me barf...

I changed my spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor arm. My idle speed went up from 500rpm to 700 rpm, I got around 4 mpg more and no more rich idle fuel smell. I'd explore these options first if your AFM hasn't been tampered with.
Post Reply