Ducato Engine Smell in Cab with heater/fan on

[Tombola]

2003 Ducato PVC,, Its an engine smell in cab, you know the type, when you lift the bonnet on a hot day sometimes you get a whoosh of engine smell Id even go as far as to say, "radiator" smell.
Its not strong but annoying, Id like to see if anyone has had and easiest way to trade where it originates.
Ive had a look under the bonnet for any obvious hole sor missing grommets, and dont see any, but had a car accident and have a bad back atm so cant do too much rooting.

it seems to be there whether the heater is re circulating cab air, or drawing in from outside?

Its defo not exahust so thats a blessing, just that "dirty" engine smell Im looking for the best way to trace it, I seen on another website to use something like a josh/incense stick but not sure where Id put it

Anyone esle had one and managed to trace it,

 

[Jo662]

Do you need the pollen filter changing ?

 

[Northernraider]

The heater matrix is inside under the dash. Are you losing any water at all? Even a little.

 

[Tombola]

Do you need the pollen filter changing ?

Thanks I'll have a check

 

[Tombola]

The heater matrix is inside under the dash. Are you losing any water at all? Even a little.

Good point, I think there was a faint dampish smell too I noticed .Was putting that on the back burner for now.

It's a new to us van 2003 (my sons) , and still sorting things out.

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[Tombola]

On another note, this red "

overflow" pipe seems to be just tucked up towards the dash and when I pull it doesn't seem to be connected to anything, shouldnt this be just hanging down to escape to road ?

 

[Landy Andy]

If yours was a van based then I would check heater duct inlet to bonnet cowl seal but yours being an A class so different.

The red pipe should just go down to the ground. It’s an overflow pipe for coolant system.

 

[Tombola]

If yours was a van based then I would check heater duct inlet to bonnet cowl seal but yours being an A class so different.

The red pipe should just go down to the ground. It’s an overflow pipe for coolant system.

Thanks Landy Andy
Ill take a look, it isnt on mine, its on an old 2003 Ducato jobby of my Sons

 

[Clivefog]

May have been an overheating problem and the pipe placed in a bottle to collect over flow?

 

[Landy Andy]

I would also think there will be a water drain on the heater air intake system. Such as a ducks beak or similar. That could be missing.

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[Badknee]

I’d go for heater matrix/pipework weeping and giving a whiff of hot antifreeze in the cab.
Good luck

 

[L' Hobo]

If yours was a van based then I would check heater duct inlet to bonnet cowl seal but yours being an A class so different.

The red pipe should just go down to the ground. It’s an overflow pipe for coolant system.

Should it have a overflow pipe on a 2013 vehicle, surely that's what the expansion/ header tank is for?

 

[Clivefog]

My thoughts too, hence the collection of good coolant. Header tanks looks newish and very clean compared to the rest of the engine bay.

 

[Landy Andy]

All caps will have a pressure release. These one take it via the pipe. Others just let the pressure/coolant out by the threads, and can often make the diagnosis difficult as to know if it is over pressurising or failed seal/thread on cap. So the pipe ones are preferred

 

[Tombola]

Should it have a overflow pipe on a 2013 vehicle, surely that's what the expansion/ header tank is for?

sorry my typo, 2003

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[Tombola]

Filter missing, (i think) what is the small foam soing in the back behind the u shaped plastic cowelling abiut 6 inches i can feel...anyone know if that needs replacing too? Sorry can't get in for a pic
so my question is should it even have one, on a 2003 2.8 JTD the van does have air con ?
And Ive seen some where it is inside behind the glove box, Im guessing they are newer vans

 

[Tombola]

Anyone know if it should or shouldn't have a cabin filter in there at all ?

I'm getting conflicting information via Google and am a little unsure.

 

[Pausim]

I had a similar smell many years ago in one of my cars. There was a very small leak in the heater matrix, I think it dried the water as quick as it leaked so I didn’t get any drips, just the smell of hot antifreeze. Problem solved with Radweld, other brands are available.

 

[Tombola]

Radweld gone in and a good 40 mins drive...let's see over the coming days if the smell abates fingers crossed.
I'm not in condition to be on my back and bending around trying to remove panels etc just now.

 

[DerfelUK]

Oh wow! We had exactly the same travelling up through Portugal a few weeks back. We had been parked overnight in a damp Eucalyptus woodland and put it down to that! Then we thoroughly cleaned all shoes, mats and floors! Then I left the front bonnet open overnight as the smell was definitely oil/engine we decided and not Eucalyptus.
Then over a few days it just cleared.
This is on A class Hymer B544 2016 with 32k km on the click, so no greasy oil burner with no leaks under the bonnet or drips on the floor!
Hope yours clears....following!