Weird smell after boost

[fromdeeeast]

I have a turbo B18C integra with a T04E turbo and recently when I hit boost and am on boost a weird smell appears.

The smell is like a lawnmower, you know that mixture of unburnt fuel and oil sorta thing.

Also the car doesn't spool as loud as it used to previously, however I haven't revved it that high after this smell.

I know that my car is probably tuned to run rich but is that the smell of the unburnt fuel from the exhaust or is it something else?

Any help would be appreciated.

- Thanks

[Riced_Civic]

onw of the hoses might have a leak, look in and under the engine bay for leaks. and when it hits the exhaust it starts to burn u get th smell.

[fromdeeeast]

ok, I have had a look and there is a leak.

Its towards the passenger side, closer to the crossmember , near the gearbox. That sort of area.

Its not coming from the turbo as turbo is a good 15cm away.

My only thought is the oil feed line to the turbo, however I looked at it and does not look damaged nor is there oil around the line.

Hmmm

[FLICK]

probaly poo.

[vinnY]

can you tell whether it's engine oil or gearbox oil?
recent oil change? could just be residue oil from when the oil filter was replaced

[fromdeeeast]

ok the smell has gone, however i have a new problem

my car is starting to overheat, i drive on highway and city, on highway it was fine but as soon I was in the city the car started to heat up and engine temp just started to climb. I immediately stopped the car and left it and taxied it to work and came back.

I looked at everything, coolant was fine, engine oil was fine and i seen the attachment for the rad fan. It was not fully plugged in properly

I plugged it in and drove it back home on the highway.

I checked everything and took the car for a drive, it was good for like 30 mins and on my home, driving very sensibly cruising at 50 for like 10mins, the engine temp started to rise and gauge was rising.

Went home immediately and turned car off to cool down.

Now the only i can think of now is one of few issues.

Could bad/old coolant cause it too rise the second time, as the car has been sitting for a while until last week and I also don't know the coolant concentration, so if the concentration is too low could it cause it to overheat as its just water basically?

My thoughts are now to flush the coolant, replace rad fan and oil change.

Also if worse comes to worse and its the thermostat, will removing it and driving around cause any serious damage. Way I see it, its better to run it a tad cool than overheat.

Will it cause any serious damage such as that of the headgasket?

Thanks alot, I know I am asking for alot but I am a DIY guy and new to the turbo vtec engine business, so you experienced people might be of help to me

Also I have a alloy/metal HALF SIZE radiator with a single thermo fan if thats any help

- Much appreciated

[Riced_Civic]

run the car and c if the fan turn on 1st

if it does, do the flush,

while ur doing that check the thermo stat to c if its even opening up.

[fromdeeeast]

wow that was quick, thanks man

how do you check if the thermostat is opening?

sorry for dumb qu

[Riced_Civic]

take it out and put it in boiling water and c if it opens up

[Limbo]

change ur themostat, most likely the problem.
Mine died after a short period and started to overheat like yours.

[fromdeeeast]

thanks limbo

heres 2 questions that i need answered?

1) Would it be the thermostat even though it starts to overheat after 20-30mins of driving even in city

2) Is it bad to run a engine without a thermostat until I can get my hands on one?

Thanks alot

[Riced_Civic]

1. yes it can still be the thermostat.

2. dont run with out 1, source 1 out 1st, since its a B18 it should be easy to find 1 and may as well go low temp thermo.