My car is 18 months old (19,000 miles) and when I drive on the motorway I get an eggy smell in the car that lingers for around 15 seconds. In the space of 2 hours motorway driving this happened 5 times. Can anyone help me? 

What engine? - if deisel coud this be DPF refgen?

10 minutes ago, bigjohn said:

What engine? - if deisel coud this be DPF refgen?

1.2 TSI 90 Petrol

First check its not from a passenger! 

 

It may have come from other vehicles or other remote outside source through the ventilation system, or it may be due to bacterial growth in the air conditioners evaporator or pollen filter. You may need an aircon clean/refresh and/or new pollen filter.

 

Raw petrol in red hot catalytic convertor produces H2S (Hydrogen Sulphide - rotten egg smell (toxic)) which also damages the cat which would be running too hot. Difficult to imagine how this happens on the motorway.....But unlikely to be drawn into the car at motorway speeds, as it comes out the exhaust so on second thoughts maybe discount that possibility.

 

 

Edited 14 October, 20187 yr by xman

Also a bit of a worry that the smell is obvious inside the car while moving.

Check the gearbox oil, if it is a manual the ep additives used in some gear oils can smell of rotten eggs. The additives are made from a sulphur compounds and rotten eggs are hydrogen sulphide.

Cheers,

 

Guy

Most common cause of the rotten egg smell is the Catalytic Converter with Petrol engines.

Usually with new cars / catalytic converter but then not unusual with used ones.

 

Sulphur smell.

?

Is it a TSI and is it on Variable / Flexible servicing, 24 months / 18,000-20,000 miles.  Never been serviced since being built over 18 months ago?

Have the catalytic converter checked out if it is a petrol engine.

There  might be no warning light or fault codes logged but get the car checked.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

 

Edited 15 October, 20187 yr by Offski

PS,

Here says 'Nothing to worry about',   motorway, motorway speeds etc.   But report it to the Dealership when car is in for service or before that.

http://parksidemotors.ca/why-does-my-car-smell-like-rotten-eggs

 

Check there's no petrol Volvos ahead of you !!! While a few other cars' CATs do the smelly Sulphur thing, Volvo always seemed to be the worst for some reason. Not as prevalent recently -- but noticed it the other day .. and sure enough, there was a small Volvo .. V40 maybe,   two cars ahead !  

 

I had a similar 'unknown eggy smell' in our old polo. Turned out to be a chemical reaction between different types of screenwash :O

 

Probably won't be this, so I'm just saying for completeness.