unusual exhaust smell not like LEAKING exhaust

[rminor55]

org. owner 92 camry 180k have been getting unusual smell from exaust for sevarel years-not an antifreeze or exhaust LEAK, have had it checked at several shops,no leaks doesn't get worse.Org. exhaust system,oxygen sensor,catalytic conv. Foul smell gets into clothing etc.-have to air out garage b4 closing door.Can smell it if i am following the 92 if in my other car. Great car just don't drive it much due to odor.APRECIATE ANY HELP-would like to give car to my daughter but not as is. THANKS

['88 All-Trac]

It's possible the catalytic converter has gone bad... What is the smell like? Can you describe it? I need to get the cat on our '91 rodded out as it has lived its life to the fullest and now pours out raw sulfur as though it were sand.

[rminor55]

thanks all-trac;nothing coming out of tailpipe just alittle black soot whe is started afer sitting afew days, i'll get the converter checked. fumes smell a little like diesel +rotten eggs combined. could it be oxy sensor if light isn't on?

[Mike Gerber]

"+rotten eggs"

That can be caused by the sulphur content of the fuel you are using. Do you get your gas from one station and if so have you tried changing brands of fuel?

Mike

[rminor55]

mike, appreciate the fuel brand suggestion i have used different brands,hasn't helped in the past. never had a car that a converter went bad that i knew of,don't know what to look for, usually keep a car a long time tho. thinking it might be the converter. THANKS again!

[rminor55]

i replaced my O2 senser (only 1 on '92) exhaust smells normal now!!!!! more zip on acceleration-wish i would have replaced O2 senser at 100k instead of 180k but dealer etc. kept saying if check engine lite isn't on it's OK. found out that was wrong. I've been buring all that extra fuel MPGS for years due to bad advice not to mention the bad smell of the exhaust. I also have a 96 camry with 110k never change O2 senser either GUESS WHAT I'm changing O2 sensor(s) (it has 2) asap even tho light hasn't come on!!! THANKS for the forum !

['88 All-Trac]

Glad you got it figured out!

Your dealer was full of crap. I do my O2 sensors every 60k miles. Not sure what the Toyota recommendation is, but that's what my Suzuki FSMs all say and it works.

Most O2 sensors don't catastrophically fail. Instead, they get "slow" and don't respond to changing fuel/air mixtures in the exhaust as quickly and that's what causes the engine to run rich. The O2 sensor rarely throws a code when it goes out.

Now that your 'Yota is running properly, drive the bajeezus out of it!