Club 80-90 Forums

Is it just me or does anybody else sniff the engine bay intake vents after a run?
Something good about the smell of a hot 80s petrol engine.

Whatever rocks yer boat

I do...just to make sure she doesn't smell toooo hot...

I also pat her on the a*** and thank her for the journey

I don't sniff the vents, though I see what your saying, but I do pat my bus especially after a long run or back home after a tour.

I'd be very worried if there were smells of petrol coming from my vent.

Oldiebut goodie wrote:I'd be very worried if there were smells of petrol coming from my vent.

Me too, and even more worried if diesel ....

itchyfeet wrote: Something good about the smell of a hot 80s petrol engine.

I didn't say I could smell petrol, but a petrol engine from the 80s has a particular smell. Not the same as a modern petrol engine.

Some chemist may be able to explain.

sometimes yes.
To check if some oil is spilling to the exhaust

Can't say as I've ever sniffed the vents.
I have a sniff around the engine bay occasionally but not for pleasure.
Presumably it's the smell of burned mineral oil you like Paul.
I have to admit to patting the dash when going up hills though, to urge her on.

itchyfeet wrote:Is it just me or does anybody else sniff the engine bay intake vents after a run?
Something good about the smell of a hot 80s petrol engine.

Always ...

The Moto Gucci always has a similar scent after a good hot run.....

itchyfeet wrote:

itchyfeet wrote: Something good about the smell of a hot 80s petrol engine.

I didn't say I could smell petrol, but a petrol engine from the 80s has a particular smell. Not the same as a modern petrol engine.

Some chemist may be able to explain.

It does - I reckon its the richer mixture (no mega lean burn ECU controlled trickery here), small/large amounts of oil being burnt, hot metal (so much of he modern car engine is plastic), and that fact that everything isn't vented through super carbon filters. Its probably the smell of burnt and unburnt hydrocarbons.

Its might however just be the smell of the tears of a polar bear......

Growing up in the 80's I have a very clear memory of telling my Mum how much I liked the smell of car exhaust fumes. It's about all I can remember from back then, probably for that very reason.

I also give the dashboard a little pat after a drive

Wes

Born Too Late wrote:
I also give the dashboard a little pat after a drive

Yes I do that occasionally but I have not named my vans, you get attached enough without naming them.

Yep, guilty of this particularly after a long journey. If a picture is worth a thousand words, is a sniff worth a couple of dozen? As our engines are not immediately accessible, a quick sniff could identify immediate problems is the way I look at it - fuel, oil, also being able to hear the meow of a trapped cat?
It is always followed by a ‘stop being weird’ by Mrs DevonAid.

Yep one of my guilty pleasures too. Mines off the road at the moment but I open the slider and stick my head in and have a good sniff just to get a quick fix but then they do say smell triggers memories.