My mother has a 2001 Honda accord lx with 34k on it. Every time I start this low emissions vehicle the exhaust stinks like well, exhaust but really bad. I have a 89 Ford with a 460ci v8 in it and it does not even smell close as bad, ANYTIME! Usually you could smell it's stinkyness when it idled in the driveway but after going somewhere and coming back tonight it still smelled. I have ran Amsoil P.i through it and that gave me improved fuel economy but didn't help emissions wise. THe engine runs perfect, What could be causing the exhaust to stink?

 

Is the car failing an emissions test or is there a check engine light?

I've never heard of diagnosing by smell alone, and I think there would be other symptoms if the system is running overly rich or catalytic converter is not working.

good luck

 

Rotten Egg smell? This is caused by sulfer build ups in the converter, try a couple tanks full of different gas.
A lot of short trips can add to this problem, because the Cat never gets fully heated up.

 

No, no rotten egg smell, the cat is fine. The exhaust just stinks like exhaust but I don't see why I should smell it when it's idling it is a low emissions vehicle right?