Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

[smooth_eddy]

I posted this at another web site and thought I would post here too as all us 914 guys are so spread out now!

Today I brought home a very expensive CO meter from work. I started up my 914, turned on the heater and closed all the windows, and yes the targa top is on. The meter went into alarm with a reading of 48 PPM within 2 minutes. I do have a brand new exhaust system too. This level is unacceptable in my work.

I did a google search and 2 web sites say 48 ppm will not cause any adverse health effects over a 8 hour period. Well bottom line is I do smell exhaust in the car and others ***** when they ride with me.

Any thoughts?

[Tobra]

1. Your heat exchangers are leaking

2. YOu should drive with the windows rolled down

[smooth_eddy]

But the heat exchangers are brand new!

[Twystd1]

Does this happen only when you are sitting in one place checking for CM?

Have you checked the CO meter while you were driving?

C

[smooth_eddy]

Yep, I was just sitting in the garage with the tail pipe pointed at the garage door with the garage door open. I have not tried it driving yet. We have had nothing but rain here all week. But I can still smell fumes while driving so I doubt it will make any difference.

[Patrick3000]

If you smell fumes you have a leak! But you already knew that because "I brought home a very expensive CO meter from work"

So find the leak and fix it.

[Tobra]

Originally posted by smooth_eddy
But the heat exchangers are brand new!

I thought you said it was a 914. They may be new to you, but they ain't new

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

There are a few ways that CO can get into the cabin. The heater takes all of its air from the engine bay--either from the engine cooling fan or from the auxiliary blower fan. So you could have CO in your engine bay--possibly from burning oil?? You could have some from more oil in/on your exchangers.

But my guess (and it's just a guess!!) is that you would not get enough to trigger the warning just from that, so it seems likely that there is some leak from your exhaust pipes into the exchanger wrapping. Time to check--carefully!!

--DD

[smooth_eddy]

Quote..I thought you said it was a 914. They may be new to you, but they ain't new.

Yep, brand new. New SS HE's are still out there no if you look hard enough.

Dave, I think it is just because the air intake is inside the engine compartment. I need to see what the reading are when I am driving. We have has so much rain up here that I have not been able to take it out. I will post my findings when things dry out here.

I will take it to one of our Teener Tuesday's and see what other 914 are like.

Eddy

[teenerted1]

too much rain? what are you talking about?

the N-Gruppe did its monthly breakfast and drive this weekend and only got drizzled on a little in the morning. we meet at the XXX Drive-In in Issaquah every 2nd Saturday every month rain, SNOW or shine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/pacific-northwest-us-wa-id-ut-hi-ak/267147-porsche-saturday-breakfasts-2nd-saturday-monthly-post3154629.html#post3154629

heres a shot from January when the snow was blanketing the whole Seattle area. .


found out that my teener isn't the best snow car, but still a lot of fun every time it is one the road


all are welcome come on out. I'm sure we can find a few cars with a bigger CO problem than yours.

[smooth_eddy]

Last time I checked drizzle is rain which creates rust. Our cars worst enemy.

[teenerted1]

wait you were are worried about CO levels on a 30+ year old car?

never knew of any early Porsche that didnt emit some kind of oder. the scent of oil,fuel and are exhaust are part of the fun of owning a old sports car. sounds like you have an exhast leak you need to take care of. tighten all your bolts and gaskets. make sure all your hoses/pipes are intact.

the heater fan is in the engine compartment and is not exactly the right place for clean air. that is probably the source of the oders.





if you are so parinoid about the rain issue, well, i guess we won't be seeing you at the XXX very much. we dont understand people that buy an early car in the nothewest, and worry about rain. if that was the case everyone would be driving plastic cars.

and no it isnt RAIN that causes rust. have you ever seen footage of a steel boat at the bottom of a fresh water lake. they are in pristeen condition. if water that is your concern then DON'T EVER WASH YOUR 914!!!!

it is not taking care of the metal to prevent corision/oxidation that causes rust. wipe it down after a good soaking, rince it off with clean water when you get home after a wet drive. wash it after a dirty or dusty drive if you have to too. POR15 the areas that are prone to rust, get a battery matt, and a water tray for your engine grill, make sure all your drain holes are clear. wax your car more often. maintenace not abstinence is the answer!!!

not driving when there is a chance of percipitation is not one of them. not driving a 914 in the rain because it will melt away is just silly. my car has spent the last 20+ years in the pacific northWET and has very few signs of even minor surface rust. still has the original paint job and in excellent shape. if it had spent anytime in the midwest or the east where they salt the roads half the year, that might be another story. all these cars that are rusting away, weren't taken car of in the first place. if your car has lasted this long and is still intact get out there and enjoy it. it's not like they are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars anyway.

the roads here are so excelent. by not driving in the rain i would have missed out on too many drives to count. these cars were ment to be driven. and have you seen the kind of weather they get in Germany where these cars come from? i can't belive a car 30+years has never seen rain and is located in washington!!!



throw away that CO sensor, get some rain tires, and have some fun driving sidways through a dirty wet leaf covered corner. beter yet do a DE or AX on a rainy day and see what these cars are made of.

that or move to california and worry about passing emmisions, and rain two weeks of the whole year.

[goat]

Check the heads. the bolts that the exhaust bolts up to is a place were cracks form there is not much metal surrounding those bolts.
Use a stethascope and see if you can hear a leak in that area.

[Bleyseng]

I agree that you could have a exhaust leak at the manifolds as its really tough to get it to seal right!

The exhaust then is sucked up from under the motor thru leaking engine to engine tray seals.

I will come out to a saturday XXX meet soon, I always forget when they are.