Why does my Hyundai Elantra emit a strong fuel o r exhaust smell from the engine bay o r tailpipe?

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Why does my Hyundai Elantra emit a strong fuel o r exhaust smell from the engine bay o r tailpipe?

A noticeable fuel o r sulfur-like exhaust smell can indicate a problem with the fuel system, catalytic converter, o r EVAP system. In some cases, the issue might stem from unburned fuel, a bad O2 sensor, o r even a clogged catalytic converter. Is this dangerous, and does it signal a serious emissions system failure?

Gari Specialist asked on 21 Jun 2025 18:04:53 pm

1 Answer

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Gari Master - on 21 Jun 2025 18:08:12 pm

A strong fuel smell typically suggests that raw fuel is leaking o r not fully combusting. An exhaust o r sulfur-like smell could point to a failing catalytic converter o r rich air-fuel mixture.
Possible causes:

Leaky fuel injector o r fuel rail

Cracked EVAP line

Faulty O2 sensor o r catalytic converter

Leaking exhaust manifold o r gasket
Solution:
Check for fuel leaks under the hood and around the gas tank. Use an OBD-II scan tool to look for rich o r lean codes e.g., P0172. If the smell is coming from the exhaust, get the catalytic converter and fuel system inspected promptly—it could lead to more serious issues o r a fire hazard.