Smelly Sulfur after pushing car hard
 

Hey guys, have you noticed a sulfur smell when you press on the gas hard? Whenever I push the car hard, ie going up a steep hill or launching from a standstill, I can smell a sulfur smell. I have read this problem could be due to a faulty catalyic. Any ones else have this problem? I was thinking of taking it back to the dealer but I don't want them to go rev happy on my car to reproduce it. Is this something that will go away after awhile? I have 10,000 miles on my car already. Thanks!


P5
Silver and Proud of it!

ya i had the same problem.....but it has gone away now

I've got a buddy with a 2001 Cavalier, and after he drives his hard it reeks like sulfer... I think it's common with alot of cars...

I think I get that too whenever I push the car hard on the highway..........:mad:

:nod: I have also experienced this. My guess it is some what related to fuel you use.

It only seems to happen after filling up with regular unleaded...but could just be a coincidence. But I usually go with the octane above regular.

:dunno:

I used to have this problem with my 91 Honda CRX Si. I was told by a Honda tech that it was due to water being splashed into the exhaust tips and collecting in the muffler. The sulfur smell was created as the crud in the water burned away.

This was an epidemic problem with 4G Honda Civics and CRX's due to the exhaust tip's close proximity to the rear wheel and poor muffler drainage (a design flaw that also led to very rapid muffler rust). Some mechanics still call this the "Honda smell" :)

My guess is that you managed to splash the muffler "just right" to get some water in there. Since I haven't heard of this problem happening with other P5's, it is probably temporary and will go away by itself.

I used to get this every now and then, but I don't remember it happening lately at all.....

Re: Smelly Sulfur after pushing car hard
 

One thing to check is your dash setting on the evironmental controls. Is it set to fresh air or recirculated air? Sometimes if the seal at the back of the hood isn't quite in contact you can draw in air from the engine bay when on the fresh air setting.
Stocker

Thanks guys for the replies. Yeah, I read on the clubrsx board that this happens to their cars too. Something to do with the ULEV. Damn bother me, smells bad. I really don't push the car hard often, but I may do so to try to get stop the smelling. I will try different gas as well. Thanks!

I have the same problem after long highway trips.

hey carguycw, i also got that smell in my 90 CRX SI. And now this P5 also. Specailly after going up a big hill,or going 85 MPH for a couple of second.. As a matter of fact,i have this smell ibn all my cars- CRX SI, 91 Prelude SI, and now this P5. only happen when the engine is push hard!! i really don't think it has to do with ULEV,cause non of my old car has that.

I am gonna try to use premium gas next time to see if I can get rid of the awful smell. It is pretty nastly, specially when you got other passengers with you. Almost smells like a fart!

Maybe it is a bad catalytic converter???

Yeah, that was people were saying about the RSX's.

damn the smell is back. I read some posting on deja.com indicating it could me a too rich of a fuel mixture. I am not sure this is normal. Can we set up a poll to see if others have this same problem?