davefzr

Hey all.. I have been having this huge issue ever since I got my car back from the dealer for it's 30k service. The night that I picked it up I noticed that there was a very heavy smell of gas in the car. I first thought that it must have been the neighborhood or some other source but as I drove the car more I noticed it was my car.

Here is the breakdown which confuses me even more.

With the windows up and no air coming in from the outside I can not smell it.

With the windows up, no air from the outside and the A/C on I can not smell it either...

The only time I can is when I let outside air into the car. This is strange but makes a bit of sense I guess. To me the car must be leaking either gas or I have a really bad leak in my exhaust system and the smell is coming right up through into the car.

All of you know that with the outside air coming into the car you can crack the windows to get a higher rate of air into the car.. Well.. when I do this the smell is at it's worst.. I mean really bad guys...

I am going to take in my car to Midas to see if there are any leaks or anything.. but I just wanted to post this here to see if anyone else has had something similar happen to them.

Also.. Mazda is going to call their hq to see if anyone else has reported something similar...

Thankx all

Slims8

All I can say is don't light a cigarrette.

Did they do a flash update on your car when you had it in? I think it's a possibility and it's either running rich or hasn't adapted yet.

tommy12g

I had a similar situation and the Aldahyde filter fixed it and i never smelled anything else ever again

TyrellCorpNexus8

Sorry to hear that, Dave. Hope you get it fixed. I wonder what it could be.

davefzr

What filter is this?

rx8cited

The climate control cabin air filter in our RX-8s that's supposed to be replaced every 24 (?) months.

TyrellCorpNexus8

Dave, there is as DIY for the cabin air filter. Maybe you should consult it and find out if they removed the filter and forgot to put it back in.

davefzr

Hey guys.. thankx for your input.. I tried the DIY but the filter looks and smells...... perfectly fine to me... It looks like they repalced it...

I'll have to take my car in because this is getting sick.. I cant even roll down my windows without smelling it..

I took my car to Midas today and one of the flanges was really loose... They fixed that issue and my vibration went away, but the smell persists...

truemagellen

the aldehyde filter is a special cabin filter that uses a new technology that only the RX-8 has access to at this time (it is branching to many other cars and applications such as in home in the futres), developed by a mazda engineer in Japan, it is amazing!

GOOD: not just blocks out dust/contaminents but smells, this includes smoke (amazing at filtering this), and other smells (like driving through Iowa you barely notice the poop smell off the farms), filters out a stinky fart let out in the cabin :p

BAD: works so well if you drive by a BBQ you can't smell it

TyrellCorpNexus8

truemagellen,

But it doesn't seem like that's Dave's problem. His car was fine before with the plain filter.

davefzr

Yeah.. we'll see.. I just hope that everything is cleared up by the 17th of Dec. Race day at Ca. Speedway.. All are welcome.. JOIN

www.speedventures.net

rx8cited

"Plain filter?" - are the stock factory cabin filters not Aldahyde?

TyrellCorpNexus8

That's what they say. Go here and scroll to the bottom of the first page: https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...yde+air+filter.

truemagellen

nope...actually the cabin filter is like all others...the aldehyde you have to order special...only the newer japanese rx8s have them stock

rx8cited

Thanks.

Here's some addtional info:
Stock Paper Filter : P/N LDY3-61-J6X
Upgrade Aldehyde Filter: P/N LDY4-61-J6X

Aldeyhde filter costs ~ double compared to paper filter (~$44 vs ~$22 @ Trussville Mazda).

Owner's Manual Service schedule says to replace it (the paper one I suppose) every 24 months or 25k miles for both schedules.

PUR NRG

Tangential answer: the canzoomer unit eliminates the gas odor because it tends to run leaner than stock.
________
Smokeout 2010

ua15

I have the same exact problem... Although the smell has been there since I bought mine (2-3 weeks). I'll take mine in soon.

Maolin34

Just a few days ago I had my first CEL. I have almost 20k on my 04, and everything has been pretty good. I took it into the dealer, and they said that the error code was for an
evaporator error. So basically, my fuel system is leaking somewhere....they did not say that it is leaking "liquid" but that the fumes (which are explosive-great) are leaking out. The re-flashed my "M" to "N" and ordered a new gas cap...they are starting with the cheap stuff first I guess.

By the way, did you guys know that the Stone Guard on the sides of the car near the rear wheel cost $69.05 each?!!? I was going to get some more to apply to other areas of the car....they told me at the dealer not to worry about it, they would just order some. Yesterday they said, "ok, yea....worry about it. It's $140"

rx8cited

Where else were you going to apply the stone guard? Hope they fix your CEL soon. Could it have been that the gas cap was loose?

Razz1

Any updates?

ua15

I took mine to service today. They did not find any fuel leaks and said that the smell comes from exhaust fumes. The service manager told me that due to the way exhaust is routed in RX-8's, it gets back into the cabin if the heater is in fresh air mode and the car is idle or travelling at low speeds. He said a few people complained about this in the past. He had no clue about what aldahyde filters were!!! Can someone tell me how can I get one of these filters?

Maolin34

Ok, the new gas cap was installed, but they did not have time to clear the error codes, and CEL. I drove with the new cap for two days, and the CEL when out. Nothing since....might be ok!

Since it is very hard to see this stone guard stuff, I though that placing some near the headlights and on the leading edge of my strakes under the door....they have been pummeled by sand, rocks....it shows up alot on my Silver.