My '86 22RE exhaust smells like gunpowder(?)

'86 4Runner, 22RE, 180Kmi.

Under acceleration with the tailgate window open, I get a strong whiff
of sulfer(?) that smells like the shooting range. I did lose the
tailpipe aft of the muffler a few months ago, which resides just above
the axle, but WTF?

A year or so prior to the exhaust failure/loss, I replaced the plugs,
wires, cap, and rotor, and checked the timing per the Toyota manual.
Passed Wisconsin emissions prior to tail pipe ejection and tail pipe
loss and never noticed sulfer odor.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

"KaiS." <spam@begone.com> wrote in message
news:SNU5g.81202$dW3.61170@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...[color=blue]
> '86 4Runner, 22RE, 180Kmi.
>
> Under acceleration with the tailgate window open, I get a strong whiff of
> sulfer(?) that smells like the shooting range. I did lose the tailpipe
> aft of the muffler a few months ago, which resides just above the axle,
> but WTF?
>
> A year or so prior to the exhaust failure/loss, I replaced the plugs,
> wires, cap, and rotor, and checked the timing per the Toyota manual.
> Passed Wisconsin emissions prior to tail pipe ejection and tail pipe loss
> and never noticed sulfer odor.
>
> Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.[/color]

The FAQ section at toyota.com has this answer regarding sulfur odor from the
exhaust:

***
A sulfur odor emitted from the vehicle's tailpipe does not necessarily
indicate that there is an issue with the engine's running condition. It is
most likely directly related to the fuel.
Sulfur is a natural component of crude oil from which gasoline is refined,
and the amount of sulfur can be decreased through the refining process.
While the amount of sulfur in fuel sold in California is regulated, gasoline
sold in other states can have substantially higher sulfur content. Sulfur
content may vary between gasoline brands and locations; switching gasoline
brands may help. The more sulfur present in the gasoline, the stronger the
sulfur odor can be.

In order to properly assess your vehicle, we recommend you contact the
Customer Relations Manager at your local Toyota dealership.

***

The sulfur smell tends to be stronger if you back up or drive with the rear
tailgate window open because the exhaust is drawn into the passenger
compartment.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg" smell
that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The "loss" of
your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good way to burnout
a converter!
Bill
"KaiS." <spam@begone.com> wrote in message
news:SNU5g.81202$dW3.61170@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...[color=blue]
> '86 4Runner, 22RE, 180Kmi.
>
> Under acceleration with the tailgate window open, I get a strong whiff of
> sulfer(?) that smells like the shooting range. I did lose the tailpipe
> aft of the muffler a few months ago, which resides just above the axle,
> but WTF?
>
> A year or so prior to the exhaust failure/loss, I replaced the plugs,
> wires, cap, and rotor, and checked the timing per the Toyota manual.
> Passed Wisconsin emissions prior to tail pipe ejection and tail pipe loss
> and never noticed sulfer odor.
>
> Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.[/color]

"Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:S6W5g.132$Th.27@trnddc03...[color=blue]
> The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg"
> smell that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The
> "loss" of your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good
> way to burnout a converter!
> Bill[/color]

The rotten egg smell is not an indicator of a defective catalytic converter,
and the loss of the tailpipe has no effect on the catalytic converter.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

Does it take off like a shot? :-)

On Wed, 03 May 2006 02:44:02 GMT, "KaiS." <spam@begone.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>'86 4Runner, 22RE, 180Kmi.
>
>Under acceleration with the tailgate window open, I get a strong whiff
>of sulfer(?) that smells like the shooting range. I did lose the
>tailpipe aft of the muffler a few months ago, which resides just above
>the axle, but WTF?
>
>A year or so prior to the exhaust failure/loss, I replaced the plugs,
>wires, cap, and rotor, and checked the timing per the Toyota manual.
>Passed Wisconsin emissions prior to tail pipe ejection and tail pipe
>loss and never noticed sulfer odor.
>
>Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.[/color]

Sorry Ray, but I beg to differ with you!
Bill
"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
news:3b36c$445844ce$180fead6$24531@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:S6W5g.132$Th.27@trnddc03...[color=green]
>> The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg"
>> smell that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The
>> "loss" of your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good
>> way to burnout a converter!
>> Bill[/color]
>
> The rotten egg smell is not an indicator of a defective catalytic
> converter, and the loss of the tailpipe has no effect on the catalytic
> converter.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)
>[/color]

"Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:7t46g.14317$O_6.10303@trnddc08...[color=blue]
> Sorry Ray, but I beg to differ with you!
> Bill[/color]

Bill,

You are not differing with me, you are differing with the product engineers
I used to work with at Toyota Motor Sales. Since their jobs are to design
and analyze short and long term servicability of the cars, and they seem to
be designing pretty good cars, I assume that the information they provided
to the district service managers like me was good.

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)


[color=blue]
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
> news:3b36c$445844ce$180fead6$24531@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=green]
>>
>> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:S6W5g.132$Th.27@trnddc03...[color=darkred]
>>> The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg"
>>> smell that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The
>>> "loss" of your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good
>>> way to burnout a converter!
>>> Bill[/color]
>>
>> The rotten egg smell is not an indicator of a defective catalytic
>> converter, and the loss of the tailpipe has no effect on the catalytic
>> converter.
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

Ray:

Thanks for the intelligent response. Nice to see That type, rather than a
"flame".:>)
Not saying I am totally right/wrong, but like you have "many years" of
mechanical experience and will hope that the OF.UP. will let us all know
just what he found to be the problem.
Cheers;
Bill
"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
news:bb728$4458db3b$44a4a10d$29272@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:7t46g.14317$O_6.10303@trnddc08...[color=green]
>> Sorry Ray, but I beg to differ with you!
>> Bill[/color]
>
> Bill,
>
> You are not differing with me, you are differing with the product
> engineers I used to work with at Toyota Motor Sales. Since their jobs are
> to design and analyze short and long term servicability of the cars, and
> they seem to be designing pretty good cars, I assume that the information
> they provided to the district service managers like me was good.
>
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)
>
>
>[color=green]
>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
>> news:3b36c$445844ce$180fead6$24531@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=darkred]
>>>
>>> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
>>> news:S6W5g.132$Th.27@trnddc03...
>>>> The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg"
>>>> smell that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The
>>>> "loss" of your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good
>>>> way to burnout a converter!
>>>> Bill
>>>
>>> The rotten egg smell is not an indicator of a defective catalytic
>>> converter, and the loss of the tailpipe has no effect on the catalytic
>>> converter.
>>> --
>>>
>>> Ray O
>>> (correct punctuation to reply)
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

OOOPS! That should have read "O.P.". Gotta use spell check all the time !

Bill
"Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:dl56g.1961$g01.843@trnddc01...[color=blue]
> Ray:
>
> Thanks for the intelligent response. Nice to see That type, rather than a
> "flame".:>)
> Not saying I am totally right/wrong, but like you have "many years" of
> mechanical experience and will hope that the OF.UP. will let us all know
> just what he found to be the problem.
> Cheers;
> Bill
> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
> news:bb728$4458db3b$44a4a10d$29272@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=green]
>>
>> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
>> news:7t46g.14317$O_6.10303@trnddc08...[color=darkred]
>>> Sorry Ray, but I beg to differ with you!
>>> Bill[/color]
>>
>> Bill,
>>
>> You are not differing with me, you are differing with the product
>> engineers I used to work with at Toyota Motor Sales. Since their jobs
>> are to design and analyze short and long term servicability of the cars,
>> and they seem to be designing pretty good cars, I assume that the
>> information they provided to the district service managers like me was
>> good.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Ray O
>> (correct punctuation to reply)
>>
>>
>>[color=darkred]
>>> "Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message
>>> news:3b36c$445844ce$180fead6$24531@msgid.meganewsservers.com...
>>>>
>>>> "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
>>>> news:S6W5g.132$Th.27@trnddc03...
>>>>> The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg"
>>>>> smell that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter.
>>>>> The "loss" of your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a
>>>>> good way to burnout a converter!
>>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>> The rotten egg smell is not an indicator of a defective catalytic
>>>> converter, and the loss of the tailpipe has no effect on the catalytic
>>>> converter.
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>> Ray O
>>>> (correct punctuation to reply)
>>>>
>>>
>>>[/color]
>>
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

"Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:dl56g.1961$g01.843@trnddc01...[color=blue]
> Ray:
>
> Thanks for the intelligent response. Nice to see That type, rather than a
> "flame".:>)
> Not saying I am totally right/wrong, but like you have "many years" of
> mechanical experience and will hope that the OF.UP. will let us all know
> just what he found to be the problem.
> Cheers;
> Bill[/color]

Intelligent and civil discussions are the best kind!

I'm no rocket scientist, I just pass on what I was told.

BTW, I bet that the OP's complaint will go away after switching fuel brands.

--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

KaiS. wrote:[color=blue]
> '86 4Runner, 22RE, 180Kmi.
>
> Under acceleration with the tailgate window open, I get a strong whiff
> of sulfer(?) that smells like the shooting range. I did lose the
> tailpipe aft of the muffler a few months ago, which resides just above
> the axle, but WTF?
>
> A year or so prior to the exhaust failure/loss, I replaced the plugs,
> wires, cap, and rotor, and checked the timing per the Toyota manual.
> Passed Wisconsin emissions prior to tail pipe ejection and tail pipe
> loss and never noticed sulfer odor.
>
> Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.[/color]

Usually when the tailpipe is intact, all the fumes exit to the rear of the
vehicle. If part of the tailpipe is missing then fumes can and will enter
the bed under a shell, or enter the rear window at the back of the cab.
You've gotten some good advice on the cause of the smell, but don't forget
there is carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and etc., which can kill you. I
suggest you get the tailpipe fixed immediately.
HTH, Dave

On Wed, 03 May 2006 04:14:42 GMT, "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg" smell
>that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The "loss" of
>your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good way to burnout
>a converter![/color]

I had a similar problem on my '93 T100 4X4. The exhaust really
started to stink. One common cause of this on a vehicle this age is
the cat not getting hot enough. Since you've already had your rear
pipe fall off it suggests corrosion is rampant in the exhaust pipe.
Mine did the exact same thing. I replaced from cat back and still got
the smell. Upon further examination it was discovered that the flange
from the front downpipe connecting to the cat was almost completely
separated, allowing both hot exhaust gas to escape before passing
through the cat and cold external air to be drawn into the cat. The
combination of the two lowered the internal temp of the cat enough
under normal running to create that awful smell. Once I replaced the
front downpipe (no exhaust places around here would sleeve it) the
smell went away.

I too have that smell and I too have been told it was my cat. Hmmm, I need
to rethink this, cause I was abotu to buy a new one

Searcher

On Wed, 03 May 2006 04:14:42 GMT, "Bill Hall" <bhallc21@verizon.net>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>The smell you are referring to sounds very much like the "rotten egg" smell
>that is a good indicator of a defective Catalytic Converter. The "loss" of
>your tailpipe and continuing to drive that way is also a good way to burnout
>a converter![/color]


The only indication here is a fuel quality problem. THe sulpher is in
the fuel not the CAT and it will not smell like that unless there is a
source for the sulpher, ie the fuel. If engine is a bit over rich it
can aggrevate it some.
-----------------
The SnoMan
[url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]

On Fri, 05 May 2006 01:33:22 GMT, "Shopdog" <lookout@aol.net> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I too have that smell and I too have been told it was my cat. Hmmm, I need
>to rethink this, cause I was abotu to buy a new one
>
>Searcher
>[/color]


Change where you buy your fuel at.
-----------------
The SnoMan
[url]www.thesnoman.com[/url]