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Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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Carisathedreamer
New User
May 30, 2012, 9:41 PM
Post #1 of 7
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Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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I've been having all sorts of car troubles, and I'm completely car-ignorant, so please bear with me.
I went for an oil change about 3 weeks ago, got a new filter etc. Took my car somewhere else today because 1) I needed new brakes 2) it appears my air conditioner is leaking onto the passenger side floor and 3) my car starting giving off an oil/gas smell when I hit around 60mph. Upon inspection, they found that a nut (bolt?) hadn't been tightened properly and my car had been leaking oil for 3 weeks - I was down 2 quarts and the oil I did have looked very black.
So they fixed my brakes and fixed the leak - they didn't have equipment for an ac so they didn't work on that. Here's the problem: my car started giving off that smell again, after about 20 minutes of driving at 60mph. I have no idea what else could be wrong with it! I'm a single mom and it would be a huge disaster if my car broke down. Please give me some advice/thoughts. All would be appreciated :) thank you!!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 31, 2012, 12:28 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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Quote "I've been having all sorts of car troubles, and I'm completely car-ignorant, so please bear with me."
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OK: Seems like the oil change as basic as that is something went wrong or perhaps wasn't done at all? Need or would help to know what this vehicle is, miles and any other info.
A/C dripping on is common when the water it makes normally can't just drip to the ground. That can be cleared out. It can also make odor - usually a musty, moldy odor. That needs to be cleared out and you should see the water dripping to ground if the A/C is working, blowing cool air for you.
The odor if from that and not burning spilled oil on engine from some botched oil change can be dealt with usually with plain Lysol type product sprayed in vents and sprayed where vehicles pick up outside air where windshield wipers are mounted outside so run it once the water issue is fixed and let the Lysol do its thing. If bad enough that can be a problem if growing mossy junk inside the dash components but should go away once the water on floor problem is fixed. If that's it by your description it is you should take care of that - clean or spray where carpet is/was wet.
Neither an oil change service (clearly something wrong with that) or the brake work should have anything to do with the A/C issue with water if water dripping.
Test that wetness with a paper towel. Water should plain dry. If that is engine antifreeze that is a real problem and will cause both odor and engine problems so find out what that moisture really is or get help.
Sounds like this botched oil change went all bad somehow. If an oil filter was leaking or who knows it certainly should not have been low on oil in 3 weeks or black.
Do keep checking oil yourself and so far sounds like that place isn't the right place to go. Have to suggest you find a shop that can help you better or with more qualified techs. Whatever the shop was that did brake work may be good or not. If not familiar with the places it really helps to find one good place and if happy find out who the tech was and ask for that person again. If that shop doesn't do A/C anything then ask them who they like - some don't like to recommend other shops as if something went wrong it can make them look bad.
I know it's tough but chasing bargain car work is frequently NOT a bargain. If not sure how to find the right shop ask around friends, co-workers, neighbors or whatever for folks who are happy with a place. You need a car as most do and it needs you to take care of it,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 31, 2012, 3:29 AM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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Ifr you had oil that leaked onto the exhaust system from the previous leak, it will take some time for the residue to completely burn off but i would check the oil level anyway just to make sure they stopped the leak.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Carisathedreamer
New User
May 31, 2012, 6:34 AM
Post #4 of 7
(1996 views)
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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I should have mentioned - my car is a 2007 toyota rav4, with 93000 miles on it. I'm not so worried about the ac leak, it sounds like its just clogged - but I will check the liquid to make sure it's water. I'm going to check the oil before I start the car this morning to see if any more has leaked. If it hasn't, should I just wait it out with the smell? I hadn't thought that maybe it was the residue burning off, that sounds like a reasonable explanation. I'm just supposed to make a 3 hour drive with my daughter this weekend and all these troubles make me nervous :(
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 31, 2012, 7:04 AM
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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If it does have a clogged drain, the only harm it will do is ruin your carpet and grow bacteria under it. Just make real sure that it isn't still leaking oil by watching the level closely.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 31, 2012, 7:07 AM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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Bring oil with you and know how to check it manually by dipstick. Watch gauges + warning anything on dash. If water from A/C and not much it may be draining some but not enough if so just shut it off for a while - run just vent on the trip. That shouldn't be too hard to fix.
If water and wet stays carpet and inside dash where it's making cool air for you that odor can make you sick - a maybe.
Good luck with the trip,
T
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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May 31, 2012, 7:15 AM
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Re: Gas/oil smell when car hits 60ish mph..?
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Since you're out in the mountains of MA., you should be able to do without air for 3 hours if necessary but I wouldn't leave unless you are sure it isn't leaking badly. That could cost you an engine.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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