# Exhaust smell **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 20, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577 "2011-06-20T16:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kharden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kharden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kharden)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/1 "2011-06-20T16:37:43Z")
I have a 1999 Ford Ranger. Two weeks ago I had an oil change and a tune-up. After I got my truck back I noticed that when I am stopped in traffic, while running the air, I smell exhaust smells from other cars around me. I do not smell it when there are no other cars. This was not happening before. I took my truck back and they checked it out. They said that they could find no reason for it. My truck does not have a fresh air button and and he said that since it vents directly in that that was they only thing he could think of to cause it. It was not doing this before it was worked on. I love my truck and it has been a great truck. Does anybody have any idea what could be the cause. They did check the breather hose and said it was fine. Help! Karen ---
**Author:** ![kharden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kharden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kharden)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 4:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/2 "2011-06-20T16:38:45Z")
I have a 1999 Ford Ranger. Two weeks ago I had an oil change and a tune-up. After I got my truck back I noticed that when I am stopped in traffic, while running the air, I smell exhaust smells from other cars around me. I do not smell it when there are no other cars. This was not happening before. I took my truck back and they checked it out. They said that they could find no reason for it. My truck does not have a fresh air button and and he said that since it vents directly in that that was they only thing he could think of to cause it. It was not doing this before it was worked on. I love my truck and it has been a great truck. Does anybody have any idea what could be the cause. They did check the breather hose and said it was fine. Help! Karen ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/3 "2011-06-20T17:08:58Z")
The only possible relationship I can envision between the work and your post would be if in doing the oil change the shop accidently spilled some oil where it ran onto a portion of the exhaust system and when you’re stopped you can smell it cooking. ---
**Author:** ![kharden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kharden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kharden)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/4 "2011-06-20T17:30:43Z")
No, I only smell it when other cars are around me. If I don’t have other cars around me there is no smell. So strange. ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/5 "2011-06-20T17:50:57Z")
If other cars must be a key factor, why do you assume the exhaust smell is coming from your Ford? Clearly it must be one of those other stinky cars that’s creating the smell. But I agree with mountainbike above. It is likely an oil spill from the recent maintenance that is causing the situation. This is a harmless state of affairs and it will clear up on its own in a few more days. ---
**Author:** ![kharden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kharden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kharden)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/6 "2011-06-20T18:20:01Z")
It just that the smell of other cars exhaust has not been coming in through the vent until recently, since repair. I would only smell anothers car exhaust if it was an older more stinky exhaust. Now a car can be beside me or in front of and I smell the exhaust. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/7 "2011-06-21T00:13:03Z")
did these trucks of that vintage come with cabin filters? You might try replacing that and seeing if that helps. It’ll be the cheapest solution ---
**Author:** ![kharden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f19dbf/32.png) [@kharden](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kharden)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smell/65577/8 "2011-06-21T16:13:17Z")
Nope, I asked and they said it had no filter. I guess I will just have to live with it, but thank you all for your input!