Hi. I have just bought a Fabia elegance 1.6TDI estate. 2011. Mostly pleased with it. However, when I start up or do short runs, I get this slight tang on my lips which can only assume is a gas from somewhere. There isn’t a smell in the car but there is outside. Also get slight headache. Any ideas what this might be or what the culprit might be?

Welcome.

Going to a tyre and exhaust fitting centre and asking them to check your exhaust might be a good idea.

If they find nothing underneath or say if it is under the bonnet you best go see a mechanic.

As ski says get it checked in case exhaust is leaking into cabin. Could be carbon monoxide (mainly produced during warm up phase) thats giving you the headache. Don't ignore.

Thank you. I was just surprised as new MOT and Service from garage.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/carbon-monoxide-poisoning/#symptoms-of-carbon-monoxide-poisoning

Do you set off straight away after starting it up?

 

I have noticed on very cold mornings if I start the car and then scrape the windows the car smells a bit inside which I can only assume is exhaust gas blowing back into the cabin due to having the blower on full coupled with the fact that the combustion process isn't at its optimum yet and also the raised idle doesn't help either.

 

I would follow the above advice and get the exhaust checked out also

Edited 20 January, 20188 yr by SuperbTWM

Maybe caused by having had a MOT and a smoke test, so go get it checked ASAP.

Thank you.

Exhaust centre gave exhaust clear bill of health. I have noticed that there is oil leaking from a pipe at the back of the crankcase(?) that goes into a wide pipe fom the air filter. Should this be changed?