Thanks for the replies!!

I figured out what it was. It was actually engine oil that I was smelling.

You know the top of the Saturn motors, there is a release value of some
sort, right in front of the carburator? Well, I guess the accident
impact pushed it completely out and I was smelling hot oil!!! I put it
back in, voila, no more smell.

And JUST IN TIME TOO, I checked my engine oil, as a precaution. Yep,
those 3-4 days of the motor not being a closed system had evaporated (or
I inhaled it all) almost all the oil and my car was overheating like
mad. I dumped some more in and accidentally put too much (I am an idiot
I suppose) and I get some other problems now, but nothing major.



richard hornsby wrote:

>
> First off, I can tell you that carbon monoxide is completely odorless,
> colorless, and tasteless. Exhaust gases contain CO, and you're likely
> smelling the non-CO components. Arguably, it is the CO that is the most
> dangerous component, however.
>
> Did the shop who fixed your car check to see if there was any damage to
> the engine or the exhaust system? Or did your insurance co only allow
> you to go to a "body shop"?
>
> It is _possible_ that your exhaust manifold is cracked and when you turn
> on the fan you're sucking those gases trapped under the hood into the
> cabin. I don't remember where the cabin air intake is located. However,
> IIRC a cracked exhaust manifold would exhibit many other issues
> including a lot of noise. You're right tho - exhaust gases in the cabin
> can be an extremely dangerous situation. The part you can't see and
> smell is hurting you.
>
> Check for damage under the hood - intake manifold, fuel lines (?!),
> exhaust manifold, tailpipe and muffler assembly, etc. Look for leaking
> oil around the seals and gaskets. Better yet, take it to a shop that
> you're familiar with who will check it out for you a little or no cost.
> They will likely be able to tell you if any damage they find is
> coincidental or a result of the accident.
>
> Depending on the severity of the impact with the 4Runner, you may also
> want to inspect or have your seatbelts inspected for stress damage.
>
> HTH
> -rj
> 98SL2
>
> eb7g wrote:
>
>> HI there
>>
>> I have a '93 Saturn SL2. Nice car. I recently rear ended someone who
>> cut me off (it looks like's he's the liable one). He was driving a
>> Toyota 4Runner and the left front of my car went right under his. His
>> truck had no damage, but my front bumper and the hood need to be
>> replaced, as well as some frame repair.
>>
>> Now, here is the weird part. Since the accident, whenever I turn on
>> the fan, the driver cabin gets flooded with either a rich gas smell or
>> a rich carbon monoxide smell. It's making me quite sick and is a
>> hazard for sure.
>>
>> But my insurance adjuster says that because he can't see how this
>> corelates to the accident, he can't get involved in this, unless
>> proven otherwise. This is seems strange to me too as I also don't see
>> any leakage or etc.. in the engine.
>>
>> I thought I was smelling the other cars around me through the damaged
>> hood, but nope, the smell comes when I"m parked, or at the stop light
>> with no one in front of me.
>>
>> Does anyone have any ideas about what's going on?
>>