Fumes are Killing me

[mikesolis27]

I have a 1978 Z and recently got a problem with fumes. I drive the Z around and these fumes make my eyes watery and I come out smelling like fumes. Can any one help me eliminate this problem.

[Jeff G 78]

Fumes get sucked in at every nook and cranny in the back of a Z. Replace the hatch seals, the tail light gaskets, the fuel hose grommets, power antenna drain seal, any rust areas, all wiring pass thoughs, etc. If you search here or at zcar.com, you will find more info than you can read through on fumes. The general answer to eliminating fumes is to seal everything in the back half of the car as though you were building a boat and were trying to keep it water tight.

[240znz]

Exhaust fumes or fuel fumes?

If exhaust them as Jeff suggested.

If fuel smell, then start checking all the hoses on the fuel tank especially around the expansion tank behind the right hand hatch inner guard cover.

[Sailor Bob]

New hatch seals did it for me - as long as I don't open the window :)

[beandip]

If you are only having exhaust fumes in the cabin when the window is open. Try adding some length to the tip of the exhaust pipe so that it extends about 2 1/2 inch past the bumper. Now for the hatch seal, take a slip of paper about 6'' long and 2'' wide, and close the hatch on it and see if you can slide it easily. Do this all around the hatch especially on the sides and across the bottom. If there is a opening this will allow the fumes into the cabin. What was said about the tail lights and other things is right on. Also If you have not vented the valve cover properly and have gone to one of the little filters there instead. This can account for fumes in the cabin as well. From what you have described you may have a combination of things going on . Do check the hatch and extend the tail pipe . Gary

[JROME]

About 30yrs ago I had the pipe turned to the side with a bend and eliminated all the fume problems. In addition, it also eliminated the etching on the bumper and tail light. I still have it there. At the time I was told the same thing about the gaskets, but felt that the car wasn't that old to need that kind of work. There is one car at the show in Daytona who did the same thing but it looks better than mine, now I will have to change it having seen a better execution.

[cheney119]

Amen to the fuel fumes. Mine leak was coming from the sender unit; I dropped the tank and had it boiled and the thing was leaking and dripping gas down the sides of the tank. My exhaust doesn't really smell but that fuel leak was overwelming.

[BR-Z]

-just got my fumes cured, too! They weren't bad, but annoying, for sure. I'd done the hatch seal, taillight seals, and assured excellent seals around the tank/overflow hoses, double checked all other possible openings under and into the car, and ALL THAT HELPED, but the biggest difference was with a new exhaust, extending WELL beyond the back of the bumper.

I'd asked the exhaust shop to do a 2.5 inch extension (following Beandip's advice) but they made about a 7-inch extension.

The maiden drive with the new exhaust was GLORIOUSLY fume-free. What a nice thing! To be fair, the exhaust had a tiny leak mid-pipe that could well have been a contributor, but it's seeming like the longer tip is the key.

HOWEVER! - I just couldn't stand the aesthetics of the huge extension - it looked too much like VW beetle Stinger!

So I'm in the process of shortening it, incrementally. If I just left well enough alone, then, well,.... I wouldn't be a serial Datsun owner! If I make it too short and start getting fumes again, I will post!!!!

'73 240z PPG Concepts single-stage #918 Mexican Orange

[BRE-240Z]

HOWEVER! - I just couldn't stand the aesthetics of the huge extension - it looked too much like VW beetle Stinger!


Josh, don't forget that you're going to need that extension when the mother ship comes for you.

:p

[kwgrafx]

exhaust fumes have been a bit of a problem for me when i drive with my window down. not too long ago, i discovered that if i rolled down the passenger-side window, it evened out the suction affect, and fumes were barely noticeable. then, as a "i've tried and fixed absolutely everything else (except pipe extension), i replaced the 2 big rubber plugs on the hatch....and put a bit of metal tape near the hatch latch to help seal there, and wa-la! no more fumes. it's a wonderful thing. hope this can help someone breathe a little easier.

[EScanlon]

exhaust fumes have been a bit of a problem for me when i drive with my window down. not too long ago, i discovered that if i rolled down the passenger-side window, it evened out the suction affect, and fumes were barely noticeable. then, as a "i've tried and fixed absolutely everything else (except pipe extension), i replaced the 2 big rubber plugs on the hatch....and put a bit of metal tape near the hatch latch to help seal there, and wa-la! no more fumes. it's a wonderful thing. hope this can help someone breathe a little easier.

This is almost too good to not say something....

You mean that all we had to do was roll down the other window and use some duct tape? ROFL :stupid::tapemouth

Silly us, we've been trying to FIX the problem when all we had to do was stick our head out the window!!! LOL

Sorry Kyle, but while that may be a "quick fix" it doesn't help when it's raining, it's cold, or .... you don't want to have both windows down. Then again, YOU go ahead and tell your wife / girlfriend to just roll down the window if she doesn't like the fumes. I'll bet you never have to worry about her riding in the car any more.

Not starting a flame war, just couldn't help it.
E

[kwgrafx]

my apologies, i forgot that not everyone lives in southern california...even though with all the traffic around here, sometimes it feels like it!

the main learning was getting new rubber rear hatch plugs, that's what finally solved the fumes issue for me.

[cbfoo82]

I had the same problem with my 1970 240Z and after doing everything listed except the pipe extension... I was ready to sell the car out of pure frustration.

Then one day I figured what the hell and just jury-rigged an extension together and damn if that didn't get rid of all the fumes with the windows down!!

Now like BR-Z I have to "pretty-up" my extended exhaust pipe....I hope he finds the exact length so I can get the perfect tip on my new exhaust pipe!!:nervous:

[sblake01]

The original poster, who hasn't replied yet, never did confirm the type of fumes he was experiencing. If it was exhaust, which I doubt, since it's a 78, unless he has an exhaust leak somewhere under the car. The 280Z and late 260Z exhaust exits farther back because of the position of those 'hated' bumpers. But a fuel leak.....well at nearly 40 psi, besides the obvious danger, those fumes would definately, in his words "make my eyes watery and I come out smelling like fumes". It's the more likely scenario and he never made any mention of windows being up or down.

[Sailor Bob]

I have the problem with a 77 - looking at your avitar (Stephen) I believe your chromed pipe is longer, perhaps yours is modified.

[sblake01]

It is modified but I've never had the fume problem before. I only put the tip on to keep the exhaust off of that 'beautiful' rear bumper.

[Bread-Man280]

I know this thread is kind of old, but I wanted to ask a question (without making yet another fumes thread). Has any body experimented with using a hatch louver to break up the airflow. I looked around the site in almost every related thread and nothing turned up. The closest thing on the subject only mentioned "high speed" aerodynamics. I was hoping that I could get some answers from the aero-experts on the site.
Thanks, Bread

[beandip]

The hatch louvers do help to breakup the air flow and the vacuum created in back of the car. I had a set of louvers on for a couple of years but they rattled like a marimba band. The exhaust fumes went away when I extended the tail pipe beyond the bumper. It is not 100% because I do have a small leak at a exhaust pipe joint. However now she is about 95% clean. My louvers were aluminum and they also marked the glass on the hatch. The damage to the glass was the main reason I removed them. Gary

[Bread-Man280]

I know what ya mean about the marks, my brother has a TSi Conquest and it used to have a hatch louver. It marked the glass up and collected alot of leaves. He ditched the thing. IMO, the louvers only look good with the right accents, like a black airdam or those side molding strips. I know the tailpipe extension works pretty well. My father drives an older celica, he also complained of exhaust fumes, so he had me weld some longer tips onto the muffler. Took care of the fumes and it looks waay better than the stock slash-cut tips. Bread

[Sailor Bob]

I have louvers and still get the fumes when the window is down - I am going to put an extension on the TP in the spring.
Gary - My louvers can play a couple of tunes at the correct speed as well - I fixed it with a small piece of weatherstripping on each of the contact points.
No marks.

[sblake01]

I've had the louvers, the rear spoiler, an the exhaust tip the entire time I've owned the car. The lovuers and spoiler were on it when I purchased it and I put the exhaust on it the week I bought it. I've never had the fume problem and all three items probably contribute to that in some way. The only marks I get on the glass are from the 10 small rubber bumpers that contact the glass. They clean off rather easily. However, if I ever remove the mounts that slide under the moulding and are held in place with thin 3M attachement tape, I think those spots would also clean up but the rubber molding would probably be useless and have to be replaced.

[Z train]

Sorry,folks-but extending the pipe is a band-aid fix.Some thing else is wrong.My pipe is dead even with the bumper and i have no fume issues at ALL.Fuel or exhaust related.

[DatsunZsRule]

It's funny how people b!tch about fume issues with there 1st. Gen Z's. I've never had such a problem and my Z is Stock (Not modified in anyway) :ermm: Hell my Z is even due for a new rear gasket being the orig. 30 yr. old Gasket and still no smell. Not saying it can't happen but I just find it kinda odd. Sure would be nice if mikesolis27 would chime in and give us some more info on what fumes he's refering to? Gas, or exhaust?

As far as louvers go- No issues with mine. They are quiet. No rattle or marking the rear window up. I love the way they look and they sure save on the hatch carpet from the sun fading it plus keeps the car cooler in the summer but this is another topic so I won't go any further on the subject :)

[d240zx2]

Mine is a '70. It had fume problems since new. In '74, the fumes were so bad that I had the hatch vents sealed and welded over. Fume problem went away. Sold the car in 1977.

Fast forward to this year. Got the car back in January. Reinstalled the hatch vents, new rubber everywhere, IMSA spoiler and a tad longer exhaust tip. I don't know which solved the problem, but the fumes are gone.

[yor5150]

I bought a '74 260Z a few months ago from the 2nd owner who bought it from the original owner one year prior. He told me that she had informed him that there would be gas fumes if the tank was filled. Not that I doubted the information but I got tired of stopping so often for a half tank of gas. I decided to go for a full tank and just as advertised, there is a fuel smell in the cabin.

The gaskets, taillight, hatch, etc. are original but since it's not an exhaust smell and only happens on filling the tank I'm betting those are not the issue.

240znz posted: Exhaust fumes or fuel fumes? If fuel smell, then start checking all the hoses on the fuel tank especially around the expansion tank behind the right hand hatch inner guard cover.

Guess I'll start looking where 240znz suggests.

[m4xwellmurd3r]

My 280z doesn't seem to have very bad fume problems. I can drive windows up, or windows down, and unless i pull the muffler off and just run the resonator, i get no fumes. my friend never complained about it, and she hates exhaust fumes. maybe i'm just lucky somehow o_o

I never checked to see the condition of the hatch rubber, but it's probably the original rubber, even though it is still soft. and the only problem i do have, is the same as yours yor5150. if i put a full tank of gas in it, it smells of gas fumes for a little while, and then it goes away after a bit. I don't get exhaust fumes, just gas fumes after filling the tank.