Moon roof exhaust smell?

[refotsirk]

Have our wonderful 2011 EX-L and notice that with moon roof opened and accelerating, we can smell our own fresh (well.......) exhaust.
No other windows are open, and it happens consistently. I checked to make sure all the rubber seals on rear hatch and window look intact and secure and they are/were.
There are never any other vehicles in front of us so have been able to rule out
some other's exhaust.
My theory (and guess work) is that there is a fair amount of rear wrap around exhaust going on without a rear end upper air spoiler, (dirt and debris too) and somehow, the exhaust is making it back and in the moon roof.
Very interested if anyone else has noticed this cunundrum?

Feeling exhausted trying to find out!

[mclairmo]

I don't see how you can smell exhaust from the back of the vehicle at the moon roof while moving. Makes no sense to me. What are you smelling exactly? Is it a gasoline smell? Or does it really smell the same as the tailpipe exhaust? If it were me, I would check for leaking fuel lines or a leaking exhaust system.

[refotsirk]

Yes, it definitely is a fresh exhaust smell. And has me baffled. (not that it
takes much!!)
No, not a fresh gas smell. But that sulfury smell of car fumes. I guess with
first oil change by dealer, I will bring that up.
Was hoping some one else had experienced it too.
Could be a "below" issue, but will continue to figure it out.

Thanks for your feedback.
Nobody seems to mention in this forum a need for a rear spoiler for wrap around rain/snow/dirt issues. Interesting!

[rocky]

What you are saying makes no sense as Mclairmo says.

Airflow does cause an eddy at the rear of every car, but there is no way that it could find its way over the top of a car and back inside via the sunroof.

Nobody else has ever mentioned it either.

[mclairmo]

The only time I have ever smelled exhaust fumes in a vehicle is when the exhaust system or possibly the EGR valve is leaking. There must be something ahead of the moonroof (or possibly just below that location) that is leaking. I would smell under the hood and under the car while engine is running to try to pin down source.

[refotsirk]

Aha! Now that is a great place to start ...up front!
I do notice it most when we are accelerating from 0 to 55 mph.
I will try to find this possible source, and or let the dealership give it
a whirl.
Prior to this last suggestion though, all I could think of was the
wrap around from the back being the culprit.
thanks

[matts11]

Originally Posted by refotsirk

Aha! Now that is a great place to start ...up front!
I do notice it most when we are accelerating from 0 to 55 mph.
I will try to find this possible source, and or let the dealership give it
a whirl.
Prior to this last suggestion though, all I could think of was the
wrap around from the back being the culprit.
thanks

I get the same thing in my 2011. It is when just the sunroof is open and no other windows.....I think it is normal. I used to get the same issue in my 4Runner.....

[mclairmo]

You two must be smelling something else. Lay off the bean burritos.

[refotsirk]

Originally Posted by matts11

I get the same thing in my 2011. It is when just the sunroof is open and no other windows.....I think it is normal. I used to get the same issue in my 4Runner.....

HAPPY to hear that another has sensed this situation of exhaust.
So, I will have to open a window or two to see if this will cease. Makes sense to try it.
Bummer to not have the moon roof only in open position. Will still check out
the possible leak from in front somewhere. Will update with my findings.
Otherwise, no problemos!
Thanks