I have exhaust gas leak into the car that only manifests itself when the car is stationary, say sitting in traffice etc. If the climate control is switched off it is greatly reduced and whilst moving it is not evident.

Any Ideas where to start looking for such a leak? The dealer originally suggested that it might just be the fuel preheater at very cold start-up but was unable to reproduce the fault by driving around in the car. It has gotten worse over the last two weeks but I now know for sure that whilst moving it is dissipating outside of the car but whilst stationery it is being drawn inside.

Thanks for any pointers - due for MOT soon and I don't want to gas the tester (unless he fails it of course )

Has the pollen filter been changed?

The smell is heated diesel fuel like or diesel burnt like?
Because I don't know if your country market has the fuel burning heater installed, but there was some cases of o-ring leaking making diesel fuel to find it's way on the heated engine.

RichP... don't know. Is it a service item as always main dealer serviced.

Alex... Burnt fuel - a bit like standing behind the car on a still day. No FBH fitted but dealer suggested some sort of 'diesel pre-heater' which I took to mean heating the fuel prior to injection on very cold start ups.

To my knowledge, there is no such thing as diesel pre-heater on Freelander 2.
There is a mechanism to heat the diesel fuel, but this process is done inside the fuel filter so there is no way of any smell to find its way out...
In the end could be a simple conjuncture of exhaust gases getting their way from the back of the car to the front...

If it's when you're stationary in a traffic queue, might you just be sucking in the exhaust from the car in front?

Dealer was wrong in his statement. I also get this under certain conditions in standing traffic in the city, still conditions with no wind and especially damp and misty. I put the aircon onto re-circulation instead of drawing in outside air.

wdw wrote:

If it's when you're stationary in a traffic queue, might you just be sucking in the exhaust from the car in front?

Then it could be broken the flexible connection on the exhaust pipe...

Hi folks, my first post although I joined just before Christmas. Great Forum BTW.

I bought my Son a FL2 td XS and its in the dealer as I type, has been since mid December. what you are describing is what my son had after 3 days of ownership and following a service.

It's an Injector leaking and the fuel that lays in the area around it gets warm and gives off the fumes which get drawn in to the cabin. It's also a potential fire risk if it got so bad and were to get on a hot exhaust.

Take off the engine top cover, if you have the same fault you'll see it straight away.

Ian.

Thanks chaps... I will have a look at the injectors but we had a leaky one when we bought the car (fixed under warranty) and that filled the car to 'make your eyes water' levels with fumes at all speeds. Took about a week to get the car back from that.

Alex... I will look for / at the flexible exhaust connection. Sounds like a possibility with airflow under the moving car carrying the leaking gas away into the atmosphere and the stationary car drawing it up into the heater / air vents.

Soon as the weather dries a bit, pollen filter, injectors and exhaust checks plus new wipers all round. The list is growing.

HN

Just another thought. It could be fumes from the inlet pipe, at the joint at the rear LHS of the engine near the bulkhead. If it is wet underneath with oil, it could be that. I get it with mine but I haven't got round to fitting a new jubilee clip yet. I have posted a pic of it in the past but this iPad 1 has lost all it's functionality and I can't select photos.

Edit, found a link for the pic, I hope it works

Click image to enlarge

I have had this on other cars.

In addition to the exhaust flexi section, also check exhaust manifold for cracks and exhaust manifold gaskets. FL2 HSE Auto Galway Green
Evoque SD4 Auto Blue.
FL1 HSE TD4 Manual Black - Gone.
RR Classic V8 EFI - Gone

Quick update...

Pollen filter is absolutely filthy - barely a trace of the 'as new' white colour so I will replace that. Who ever designed the housing & position for that filter must absolutely hate FR2 drivers.

Jubilee clip by the organ pipes is sound.

Engine cover off and tick over until warm. No 4 injector area (gearbox) end soaked in diesel plus I could see bubbles fizzing away where the injector is fitted. No discernible leaks in any of the tubes around the injectors though. As the engine warmed the fumes started so I guess that is it.

I didn't get right under the car but couldn't see any 'smoke' blowing out of anywhere other than the tail pipe so I will get it in to the dealers for the injector leak repair.

I can't remember which injector leaked and was repaired under warranty but it was less than two years ago so I will mention that - should get me nowhere

Thanks for the pointers everybody.

At least you appear to have got to the bottom of it, which is good news