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.

[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? :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!!!

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.