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Ever since ive had this car, whenever i accelerate fast the whole inside of the car fills with this exhaust smell. Its smells different than other cars exhaust fumes, a more 'burnt up' rancid kind of smell. Maybe thats due to being supercharged. Anyway, idk how its getting into the car. This is with the air con on Recirculate, the windows up, sunroof closed. The door seals are good as i never hear any wind or road noise, all i can figure is that it is somehow seeping through the back seat. The trunk has this smell Baked into it. I noticed that the chrome exhaust tips fall about 1 or 2 inches short of clearing the rear bumper. I loosend and extended the adjustment but only got another quarter of an inch. Anyone have this stinky problem or any ideas?>
When you say "ever since I've had this car", how long have you actually owned it ?
You can get bad smells from air con/climate control systems, and one can buy freshen-up aerosols from most auto shops that kill the bugs that thrive in the damp environment of the air con system. I have actually used these myself, and reckon about once per year is sufficient. Of course this is cold, damp, England, so in hot places the condition may get worse. Other than that, I would suggest an inspection of the exhaust from the manifold back to the exhaust tips.
What happens if the air con is set to fresh air ? Same thing ? Other thing to check is the pollen filter and the plenum chamber it sits in. Make sure the drain holes are not blocked.
Ive had it a little over a year. I changed out the cabin air filter about 2 months after i got the car. I think the Climate control system is fine.Even with the Air turned completely off the smell still gets in. It only stinks under hard acceleration. Whenever im driving at routine normal speeds it doesnt make the smell. The exhaust system seems to be intact, i cant hear any tapping or ticking that you would expect to hear if there was an exhaust leak. The cars up to about 86k miles now. Im thinking maybe the catylitic converters might be burnt out or need to be changed at somepoint? Even if they are the source idk how its seeping in. There has to be holes or a leak somewhere in the back of the car's body or trunk lid i guess.
1.Is there any after-market equipment on the car (not that there IS much in after market for our X350) I am thinking anything that required drilling or self tapping screws in the body work such as auxiliary amplifiers etc. Note that the fuel tank on these vehicles is formed to fit the body cavity under the rear seat and is right against the aluminum body panels - I would get the rear seat out pronto and just confirm that there is no breach, either from someones screw up or simply a loose mount at the fuel tank where the lines, fuel pump and float mount.
Jaguar X350 Fuel Tank
2, It may be worth replacing the fuel filter - even at your low mileage. If someone bought contaminated gas with rust or particles in it, the fuel filter is limited in what it can hold and continue flow - Its an easy replacement, remove plastic panel under left side of car, unbolt the brace on the filer, and the two lines - also loosen the plastic line mounting clips (1/4 turn screws) to give you room to pull the lines out of the filter. You will spill a few ounces of fuel, not a lot, but have something to catch it. Install new, no O-rings needed, and torque to spec. 20-25 minute job at most. A clogged fuel filter will cause excess pressure BEHIND the filter (at the back of the car) and put a strain on all the tank seals back there. Mostly at high pressures of WOT. Seems a logical place to start. When I did my filter (at 88k) the thing was so clogged you could barely move air through it, nevermind liquid. This is such an easy thing to do and inexpensive, there no reason NOT to eliminate it as a cause. Heres a thread with a DIY on these forums:
Finally they make liquid products that claim to clean CATs and from people who failed smog tests, there is anecdotal evidence that it actually works in some percentage of cases. Another easy item to cross off your list. Get it, add it, see if it works.
Example of Catalytic Converter Cleaner Product
Let us know if you get this figured out. Once resolved I would be leaving the boot open often until the odor is history (could also consider getting an commercial ionizer treatment done to completely wipe the smell out.
Hi catsgame. Also consider having the interior and boot tested for carbon emissions and for the love of Mike, stop driving around with the windows up and recirculation on until you eliminate exhaust fumes entering the car!! We don't want you coming away with dain bamage or worse
Remove the exhaust tips and add some longer ones or straight exhaust pipe to eliminate the possibility of this causing your problem.
I read this as an exhaust problem but others are interpreting your words differently.
Consider re-describing your problem.
The short exhaust tips are a potentially huge problem IMHO, though the description of "rancid" puts me on the same path as Fraser or searching the spare tire for dead animal parts from some sick joke.
If your cats were failing, I would think you would see codes. Again, an emissions test should help eliminate this as a root cause.
We used to get the rotten egg smell from catalysed cars here in the UK until a few years back when very low sulphur petrol was introduced. It could be the catalysts, however here in the UK we have emissions testing, so cars that don't pass cannot be driven legally.
whenever i accelerate fast the whole inside of the car fills with this exhaust smell.
It sounds from that initial description that you have an exhaust leak, but that it is only noticeable when the exhaust pressure exceeds a certain amount. IOW, you wouldn't be able to see or hear it during a normal inspection, even with the car running.
I'm thinking that since all exhaust systems have a certain amount of back pressure, under heavy acceleration that back pressure is an obstacle, and the gases will seek the lowest pressure path of escape. Under normal load, that is along the path of the pipes and out the back, but that path could change to a union or joint once total exhaust pressure exceeds a certain level.
There is a method of testing for leaks by blocking the the tailpipe and injecting smoke through the oxygen sensor opening. IIRC, there is a shop tool called Smoke Pro and you could call around to find a shop with one. Alternatively, if you googlefu "Exhaust Leak Test" you'll find several DIY type of ways to do it.
Ever since ive had this car, whenever i accelerate fast the whole inside of the car fills with this exhaust smell. Its smells different than other cars exhaust fumes, a more 'burnt up' rancid kind of smell. Maybe thats due to being supercharged. Anyway, idk how its getting into the car. This is with the air con on Recirculate, the windows up, sunroof closed. The door seals are good as i never hear any wind or road noise, all i can figure is that it is somehow seeping through the back seat. The trunk has this smell Baked into it. I noticed that the chrome exhaust tips fall about 1 or 2 inches short of clearing the rear bumper. I loosend and extended the adjustment but only got another quarter of an inch. Anyone have this stinky problem or any ideas?>
I've had my 2007 XJ8L for 4 years and every time I kick the pedal to the metal, I get this awful stink in the car. Passes Texas emissions test every year, no codes, runs great, excellent gas mileage. Don't see or hear any type of leak. No smell in "normal" driving. Can get up to 80 with no smell if I just get there slowly.
I've read that what you are experiencing happens with supercharged cars. Over on the XK board there have been some message traffic describing pretty much the same symptoms you described.