Why does my 66' VW Bug smell like exhaust even when it hasn't been driven in a few days?

Question

I recently had the engine rebuilt and it has less than 25 miles on it. But it smells very strongly like exhaust and smells up our entire house when it is in the garage. Is there something that can be done to eleminate the smell?

The new engine is a single port 1600cc, nothing fancy. I cant keep the car outside because our neighborhood has a rule against un-registered vehicles being visable, so I have to keep it in the garage until I can get it regestered and inspected. But the smell is driving us crazy. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Driving it should eliminate the smell. Almost all re-builts have a "burn-in" period of a 100-200 miles. With only 25 miles on it, it's going to be a while.

Answer 2

What you are smelling is the paint burn off from the heat exchangers and muffler system. You can only eliminate it by driving the car a few hundred miles. In the meantime you can put a fan in the garage and open the door a crack and keep the air flowing from inside to outside. That will reduce the odor.

Answer 3

You got 25 miles on a motor that was completely rebuilt? Could be that the new parts are still burning off their packaging oils(which is all around the metal part). You need to take that car for a good long run to burn off them oils. That and seat the rings so the compression will increase. Basically breaking it in.
Weird neighborhood rule.

Answer 4

Are you nuts? Never run any vehicle inside. Your old vw is probably running a very rich fuel mixture when its cold because the choke is closed.

Answer 5

david is 100% correct, purchase new heat exchangers.

Answer 6

sounds like your heat exchangers are faulty