Popped into town and back. About 5 miles. As I pulled up the slight incline into my drive I reved the engine and it filled the car with the smell of ROTTEN EGGS. (I know it wasn't me! ). Having switched off the engine for a minute or so I started and reved the engine again but all was normal. I know it can be catalytic or maybe air conditioning smells but I didn't have the AC switched on and the car has only done 14,000 miles. Is it any cause for concern?

Popped into town and back. About 5 miles. As I pulled up the slight incline into my drive I reved the engine and it filled the car with the smell of ROTTEN EGGS. (I know it wasn't me! ). Having switched off the engine for a minute or so I started and reved the engine again but all was normal. I know it can be catalytic or maybe air conditioning smells but I didn't have the AC switched on and the car has only done 14,000 miles. Is it any cause for concern?

It wasn't me either , most probably the catalytic convertor

It wasn't me either , most probably the catalytic convertor

HaHa..Cheers, I am just hoping it's nothing more than too many short trips and that a good long run will fix it?? I've done a lot of short 5 mile round trips to town since early december.

Popped into town and back. About 5 miles. As I pulled up the slight incline into my drive I reved the engine and it filled the car with the smell of ROTTEN EGGS. (I know it wasn't me! ). Having switched off the engine for a minute or so I started and reved the engine again but all was normal. I know it can be catalytic or maybe air conditioning smells but I didn't have the AC switched on and the car has only done 14,000 miles. Is it any cause for concern?

Hi horkin, as you have noted...the smell is just your catalytic converter reaching proper working temperature. It was burning out the various chemicals and pollutants that formed during your short trips. Revving it to get up your drive did the trick. To keep your cat clear you may want to take her for a faster longer run some time. But all is well...no need to be concerned.

That smell is definitely the CAT - smelt it at some point in all my cars with CATS.

Hope this puts your mind at rest.

Many thanks Estate man and Bullyboy. It was just one of those things where I suspected the problem but needed a bit of reassurance there The weird thing is that I knew about people having whiffs from Aircon and Cats but in all my years of driving (and believe me it's a long time ) I have never experienced the problem before. I plan to take a 50 /60 mile trip next week and should be able to open her up and give it a good blow. Would it be of any benefit to put 98 Ron fuel in for this purpose (I could just about afford it ) or would I just stay with my usual 95 Ron?

Had the wife been in the car with me it could have started a domestic

Edited 3 January, 201115 yr by horkin

Many thanks Estate man and Bullyboy. It was just one of those things where I suspected the problem but needed a bit of reassurance there The weird thing is that I knew about people having whiffs from Aircon and Cats but in all my years of driving (and believe me it's a long time ) I have never experienced the problem before. I plan to take a 50 /60 mile trip next week and should be able to open her up and give it a good blow. Would it be of any benefit to put 98 Ron fuel in for this purpose (I could just about afford it ) or would I just stay with my usual 95 Ron?

Had the wife been in the car with me it could have started a domestic

No need to go for a burn imo.

I had a 1.2 HTP. If its smelling of eggs then its working properly..............My previous cars with a cat were the same.

Its all totally normal. No need to change or do ANYTHING. It seems to get less as the car ages. Mine hardly ever smelt at all after lots of miles and was always fully functional right up to 98,000 when I sold it. Its something to do with oxidisation of the sulphur in the cat. Its much more noticeable in a new car or new cat.

Edited 3 January, 201115 yr by raisbeck

No need to go for a burn imo.

I had a 1.2 HTP. If its smelling of eggs then its working properly..............My previous cars with a cat were the same.

Its all totally normal. No need to change or do ANYTHING. It seems to get less as the car ages. Mine hardly ever smelt at all after lots of miles and was always fully functional right up to 98,000 when I sold it. Its something to do with oxidisation of the sulphur in the cat. Its much more noticeable in a new car or new cat.

Sounds good mate, thanks. I'm not a mechanic as you'll have guessed but understand the basics. I'm off for a run in anycase later this week and I. carry a clothes peg with me until I get a few miles up Thanks again

Edited 3 January, 201115 yr by horkin