Strong smell of fumes... everywhere

[benjie]

Hi all, I'm in month 8 of owning my D5 V90 CC and it's been exactly how I like it - uneventful.

The only thing I notice is the strong smell of diesel fumes, a lot of the time. When I start the car in the morning (using the VOC app), I get in the car and it smells. When I get in and start the car with the key, if I don't put recirculation on quickly, the cabin quickly stinks - regardless of wind speed/direction. When I stop at traffic lights, even for a second or 2 at a roundabout - the vents blow in diesel fumes. I had started the car tonight and was about 150ft away and I could clearly smell it (wind was blowing towards me!) Sometimes, I think, when I walk past the OSF wing the smell is noticeable and I think it shouldn't be, i.e. exhaust gasses should be coming out the back. This smell is equally strong with both cold and warm starts.


I've driven VW diesels for nearly 20 years and have never had such a strong exhaust smell (cough **VW emissions** cough)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what it could be? It's under warranty, so I will book it in when I get the chance, but just wondered if there is anything common that these cars/engines suffer from?

[Polestar Pete]

Does this normally happen when you precondition?

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by benjie

Hi all, I'm in month 8 of owning my D5 V90 CC and it's been exactly how I like it - uneventful.

The only thing I notice is the strong smell of diesel fumes, a lot of the time. When I start the car in the morning (using the VOC app), I get in the car and it smells. When I get in and start the car with the key, if I don't put recirculation on quickly, the cabin quickly stinks - regardless of wind speed/direction. When I stop at traffic lights, even for a second or 2 at a roundabout - the vents blow in diesel fumes. I had started the car tonight and was about 150ft away and I could clearly smell it (wind was blowing towards me!) Sometimes, I think, when I walk past the OSF wing the smell is noticeable and I think it shouldn't be, i.e. exhaust gasses should be coming out the back. This smell is equally strong with both cold and warm starts.


I've driven VW diesels for nearly 20 years and have never had such a strong exhaust smell (cough **VW emissions** cough)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what it could be? It's under warranty, so I will book it in when I get the chance, but just wondered if there is anything common that these cars/engines suffer from?

I doubt you do, but I assume you don't have the separate cabin heater? It was an option for a while on the diesel D5 XC90 but not sure about the V90CC.

Also have you had the exhaust checked? Can you hear any blowing?

[MikeGMT]

I recall there were some threads a while ago with similar problems.

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...t=diesel+fumes

https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showt...=297903&page=8

[benjie]

Originally Posted by Polestar Pete

Does this normally happen when you precondition?

As in, start the engine to warm the car? Yes it does... though I am unsure about the extent to which I smell it, i.e. whether it enters the car when I open the door, rather then coming through the vents at that point.

[benjie]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

I doubt you do, but I assume you don't have the separate cabin heater? It was an option for a while on the diesel D5 XC90 but not sure about the V90CC.

Also have you had the exhaust checked? Can you hear any blowing?

The exhaust sounds normal, but I haven't had anything checked yet.

[nu11eaf]

Sounds like you may have an aux diesel heater running, exhaust from them usually exits at front near side.

[amadan]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

Sounds like you may have an aux diesel heater running, exhaust from them usually exits at front near side.

Does the Volvo diesel pre-heater cause a diesel smell? I have the T8 and don’t smell petrol at all, my previous car was a BMW with a diesel pre-heater and it didn’t smell of diesel either.

[nu11eaf]

May if combustion chamber requires cleaning/servicing, more likely exhaust smell if running ok.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by amadan

Does the Volvo diesel pre-heater cause a diesel smell? I have the T8 and don’t smell petrol at all, my previous car was a BMW with a diesel pre-heater and it didn’t smell of diesel either.

I don't smell petrol from mine, but I do smell the fumes of combustion. The exhaust for the XC90 pre heater is a very small pipe which exits near the back of the mudflap at the drivers wheel. Almost directly below the drivers side A pillar.