I consistenly notice a smell coming from the exhaust after starting the car on cold mornings. It smells kinda like gas and it smells for about a minute. This is something I noticed recently. Any thoughts?

Also, on an unrelated matter... what are these new colorful graphs on the left below the avatars with the points an percentages? What do they mean?

 

It's normal!

 

Every brand of gas has a different smell. I start mine in the garage and get a scent every morning. I use Shell, Exxon, BP or Sunoco and they all smell different.

 

Are you using the right octane?

 

I'm using 93 octane. I don't think its because of the gas. I noticed the smell about a month ago, right about the time I had my oil change. I went to Infiniti, and they used Mobil 5W30. Could the two be related?

 

Not if your burning the new oil and thats whats making it smell but you would see alot of smoke. I think its normal and you just have not really payed attention to it till now. Your always gonna get a smell when you start the car in any enclosed area

 

Normal ,Cold starts the ECU is running more gas and higher oil pressure till you get to operating temp.. Just me but I NEVER drive my car cold, I start it and let it run for 10-12mins in the AM before I go to work..

 

10-12 min? i usually let it run for 3-4 min and it's idling normally and temp is at normal operating level.

 

You live in cali, Im sure the weather dont get as cold there as it does for him.

 

Like above where you live you think cold is 50.. This morning when I left it was 18.. AHAH and is will get to the single digets before it warms up..

 

too bad all pumped gas doesn't smell like U4

 

It's normal at cold start.

 

Yeah mine does that too. It's normal as far as I know. Btw, is it bad to let your car warm up till the idle rev drops (which is usually about a minute or so in 30 degree weather), then I drive it really slowly (like no more than 2000 rpm) until it warms up to about halfway on the temp gauge. Then I punch it!

Is that ok? Or should u really let it warm up all the way before you even drive it at all??

 

I think it's possible that Imight be burning oil. There is more smoke than before. Then again, maybe the smoke is seen more in cold weather. It's not a fully enclosed area, it's a parking lot without a roof. I usually start the car and let it run for 5 min before driving. The smell is very strong and during those 5 minutes I can even smell it from within the car.

 

nah...you can't be burning oil. it's normal. i don't think our cars are "ulev" labeled. more gas to bring the car up to operating temperatures. sort of the reason for rough idles in some cars on cold starts - misfiring on purpose to bring temperature up (do our cars do that?)