What is causing these the symptoms in my car that probably isn't CO?
April 2, 2020 12:36 PM Subscribe
Whenever I use our car, I get a headache or a heavy head and sometimes tingling lips (depending on length of journey). Basically a feeling that the air in the car isn't 'good'. My initial thought was CO poisoning so I put a CO alarm in the car. But it hasn't sounded once despite being in there months. There's a 'dirty fumes' smell around the bonnet area when you're OUTSIDE the car but you don't really smell it on the inside. Is it possible that dirty air filters can cause these symptoms? Thanks guys
Is it possible that dirty air filters can cause these symptoms?
Definitely not. They would only cause a lack of airflow through the filters themselves, they don't 'produce' anything bad. If there is an engine bay leak anywhere near the intake for the cabin filter, though, it could be filtering out the smell and just sending the fumes in, because it *does* sound like CO on a mild level, to me. I have had that on a car that had a poor boot seal, and it was drawing air from behind the car into the cabin. I've also had a car with a small leak in the middle and it would get inside the car, so there are various ways this can happen. Does this happen when you drive with the windows open? Does it affect it?
Do you have an exhaust leak anywhere else? Easiest way to test is to put your foot over the exhaust pipe (engine running) with a rag under your foot and try and seal the exhaust exit off. If it makes the engine note drop significantly and/or stalls the engine, then it is likely fine. If not and there is no real back pressure there when you try this, then there is a leak and exhaust is being pulled into the cabin.
If you can't or don't want to do that, then take it to an exhaust place and ask them to do it, but I think you are on the right track. It doesn't take much CO to make some people feel an effect and I have noticed CO issues and had alarms not go off before.
posted by Brockles at 12:53 PM on April 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
Definitely not. They would only cause a lack of airflow through the filters themselves, they don't 'produce' anything bad. If there is an engine bay leak anywhere near the intake for the cabin filter, though, it could be filtering out the smell and just sending the fumes in, because it *does* sound like CO on a mild level, to me. I have had that on a car that had a poor boot seal, and it was drawing air from behind the car into the cabin. I've also had a car with a small leak in the middle and it would get inside the car, so there are various ways this can happen. Does this happen when you drive with the windows open? Does it affect it?
Do you have an exhaust leak anywhere else? Easiest way to test is to put your foot over the exhaust pipe (engine running) with a rag under your foot and try and seal the exhaust exit off. If it makes the engine note drop significantly and/or stalls the engine, then it is likely fine. If not and there is no real back pressure there when you try this, then there is a leak and exhaust is being pulled into the cabin.
If you can't or don't want to do that, then take it to an exhaust place and ask them to do it, but I think you are on the right track. It doesn't take much CO to make some people feel an effect and I have noticed CO issues and had alarms not go off before.
posted by Brockles at 12:53 PM on April 2, 2020 [1 favorite]
It's possible that you have leak in your heater core. Antifreeze fumes can cause:
breathing difficulties
headaches
drowsiness
blurred vision
irregular eye movements
nausea
vomiting
You can look for drips on the front carpet. I have also seen a white coating on the windows of a car with a heater core leak.
In the past I have taken the heater hoses off the heater core and put in a piece of pipe to bypass the heater core. It's almost summer so should be ok for now.
posted by H21 at 12:54 PM on April 2, 2020
breathing difficulties
headaches
drowsiness
blurred vision
irregular eye movements
nausea
vomiting
You can look for drips on the front carpet. I have also seen a white coating on the windows of a car with a heater core leak.
In the past I have taken the heater hoses off the heater core and put in a piece of pipe to bypass the heater core. It's almost summer so should be ok for now.
posted by H21 at 12:54 PM on April 2, 2020
Seconding getting your heater core checked. As very small leak in my last car caused some foggy build-up on the inside front window that was a nuisance to clean. Mine was covered by warranty.
The symptoms you're describing sound more extreme than a clogged cabin air filter, though it's worth checking yours to see if it needs replacing. (Cabin air filter might be a cheap DIY thing. Check YouTube for your car model.)
posted by dws at 1:49 PM on April 2, 2020
The symptoms you're describing sound more extreme than a clogged cabin air filter, though it's worth checking yours to see if it needs replacing. (Cabin air filter might be a cheap DIY thing. Check YouTube for your car model.)
posted by dws at 1:49 PM on April 2, 2020
Like others, I wouldn't dismiss CO, but it's also possible you have some mold growing in the car. I suppose it could happen in a filter, but more often in upholstery or the carpet.
posted by advicepig at 2:12 PM on April 2, 2020
posted by advicepig at 2:12 PM on April 2, 2020
I had a heater core leak once and the clearest sign (other than a soggy carpet) was a sweet smell vaguely like maple syrup.
(Man, that car was like the One-Hoss Shay. Everything failed all at once. Months after we bought it from a "friend.")
posted by sjswitzer at 3:03 PM on April 2, 2020
(Man, that car was like the One-Hoss Shay. Everything failed all at once. Months after we bought it from a "friend.")
posted by sjswitzer at 3:03 PM on April 2, 2020
I know of a somewhat similar situation that turned out to be droplets of oil falling on a hot engine part.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:26 AM on April 3, 2020
posted by SemiSalt at 5:26 AM on April 3, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by wotsac at 12:51 PM on April 2, 2020