BajaNomad - Pot odor in my car after changing fluids and hoses???

Pot odor in my car after changing fluids and hoses???

bajalearner - 8-11-2014 at 10:06 PM

After changing fluids, timing belt, antifreeze and radiator hoses on my Toyota Sequoia, an odor started while driving that is similar to the odor of pot. I used some synthetic AMs oil and some organic oil in various gearboxes. I don’t smoke and pot has not been in my car or smoked in my car, ever.

Four weeks ago I went through SY sentry and the guard sniffed inside my car, asked if I smoke pot, asked a second guard to sniff inside too. I heard the second guy say “oh hell yes”. I was sent to secondary where a guard asks if I smoke pot, searched the inside, under and in the hood area. I guess a dog was not on duty. I answered some questions and was released.

Two days ago I thought the odor was gone but I drove south into MX at SY with a foam sheet in the car and the MX guard directed me to secondary. The guard looked at the foam then started sniffing around. Several guards gathered and one spoke to me in English to ask if I smoke pot. I said no and told him I think the odor is from either the new fluid or hoses. I told him about the northbound guards a few weeks previous. They put a dog in the car, around the car. The dog was barking the whole time. I was thinking I had allot of splaining to do but they released me.

I only drive the car once or twice a month. Anyone else???

micah202 - 8-11-2014 at 10:24 PM

.
...my impression is the dogs can seem fairly undisciplined... ie barking,,,until they come to the situation they're trained for....I watched an airport dog once seem rather playful as it was led around luggage,,,then get rather quiet as it sat down beside on particular piece.

...did you have mechanics do your oilchange?
...did you leave the car with them a while?
.....was there a registration in the car with your US address?? :wow:

pot smell

captkw - 8-11-2014 at 10:57 PM

Hola...As a Master mechanic and Electrician.. have never come across that issue before and have never heard off that before !! That said... its not impossible, but I would look into what the post above shared as the car/truck was out of your control for a short time...NO ?...........K&T :cool:

willardguy - 8-11-2014 at 10:59 PM

run over a dead skunk?

55steve - 8-11-2014 at 11:14 PM

In an effort to be green Toyota used an organic coating for all vehicle wiring that rodents found very appetizing - an acquaintance bought a brand new Tundra and within 2 weeks it wouldn't start - had it towed to the dealer and rats had chewed significant under-hood wiring. Perhaps you have a wire that is getting hot and giving off an odor? Maybe in the work you had done, a wire is touching something hot?

bledito - 8-12-2014 at 06:16 AM

or the guy changing the fluids and hoses dropped a joint down in the engine compartment from his shirt pocket.

bajaguy - 8-12-2014 at 06:35 AM

"Most" narcotics detection canines are trained to an active alert....barking, pawing, digging.

"Most" explosive detection canines are trained to a passive alert such as sitting next to the source as you describe. I have also seen canines assigned to the US FDA/Agriculture working airports and trained to a passive alert.

very interesting to watch a trained detection canine work.

Quote:

Originally posted by micah202
.
...my impression is the dogs can seem fairly undisciplined... ie barking,,,until they come to the situation they're trained for....I watched an airport dog once seem rather playful as it was led around luggage,,,then get rather quiet as it sat down beside on particular piece.

...did you have mechanics do your oilchange?
...did you leave the car with them a while?
.....was there a registration in the car with your US address?? :wow:

micah202 - 8-12-2014 at 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bledito
or the guy changing the fluids and hoses dropped a joint down in the engine compartment from his shirt pocket.

....ahh,,maybe check the air intake for ventilation?

KaceyJ - 8-12-2014 at 08:11 AM

willard guy probably is getting close as some sulfur compounds that smell skunky are used as high pressure lubrication additives ie gear oils

acadist - 8-12-2014 at 10:30 AM

Colorado or Washington plates?

micah202 - 8-12-2014 at 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by acadist
Colorado or Washington plates?

...mechanics named Cheech and Chong?? :cool:

bledito - 8-12-2014 at 03:14 PM

just anouther mule transporting drugs without realizing it. I'd be very concerned if my car smelled of pot travelling across the border. besides the hassle everytime they want to search i'm sure they keep records of suspect people with pot smelling cars.

bajacalifornian - 8-12-2014 at 03:51 PM

Catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic,

sensitive, spiny, ticky,thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough & tricksy to say the least.

bajabuddha - 8-12-2014 at 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajacalifornian
Catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic,

sensitive, spiny, ticky,thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough & tricksy to say the least.

How many blunts did it take to come up with all that??? :lol:

bajacalifornian - 8-12-2014 at 04:05 PM

Couple cigarillos, a, some Coronas 'n a coupleclicks.

SFandH - 8-12-2014 at 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalearner
an odor started while driving that is similar to the odor of pot.

sativa or indica? :cool:

bajalearner - 8-13-2014 at 07:29 AM

I did all the work myself. In my secured patio area in Tij. The car has not been out of sight and I have good security around my car.

One other thing that I don't think is the cause but of interest; I had a almost used up Renuzit air freshener in the car. The brand that is sold in stores for use in the house. It was in the back of the car until after the first search and I removed it. During the MX dog search, I think the dog smelled the area for about 5 seconds where the Renuzit had been. No, the Renuzit wasn't named Colorado high.

I don't think the odor is from the Renuzit but it's possible.

micah202 - 8-13-2014 at 07:52 AM

.
...quite the mystery,,,and quite a concern for crossing the border :wow:

...maybe put a professional car cleaner to the test?...some certainly claim to be able to rid -any- smell....find one that -guarantees- their work

..or try some 'NilOdor'

[Edited on 8-13-2014 by micah202]

SFandH - 8-13-2014 at 08:48 AM

Can you smell it when the engine is not running and cold?

bajalearner - 8-13-2014 at 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SFandH
Can you smell it when the engine is not running and cold?

No. Although now it's much less odor than weeks ago, I only smell it after the car is warmed up. I thought it was coming from the hood area but the guards were sniffing from the left rear wheel area on a few days ago.

I thought it might have been the new radiator hoses. Gates brand.

SFandH - 8-13-2014 at 10:20 AM

You mentioned you only use the car a couple of times per month. Take a road trip to Ensenada, maybe whatever it is will burn off completely.

"left rear wheel area" check for a brake fluid leak.

vgabndo - 8-13-2014 at 12:22 PM

A few years back I loaded a 35 HP Honda onto a folded heavy felted movers blanket to haul to San Nicolas. Before we left it rained. I wasn't ready to lift the engine off it, so I closed it under the camper and later split for the frontera. When Mexican customs got a whiff of the mildew, they were ready to tear the trailer apart. Anything mildewed in the trunk?

micah202 - 8-13-2014 at 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 55steve
In an effort to be green Toyota used an organic coating for all vehicle

....maybe you got the ...... hemp edition----very- 'green'! :tumble:

motoged - 8-13-2014 at 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SFandH
...."left rear wheel area" check for a brake fluid leak.

My 2011 Silverado 1500 4X4 has an occasional smell of burning rubber than the shop can't figure out....and it is in that area as well.....other drivers have reported the same "fragrance de rubber" over the internet but no clear solutions that I can find. :?:

bajalearner - 8-14-2014 at 10:03 AM

No, no mildew in the car.

I drove it yesterday for 2 hours and didn't notice the odor. It's fading away. I guess it's not one of the fluids or it would still be strong. I'm thinking it was the new radiator hoses.

I sure hope it not be an issue again.

I just remembered I used "Super Clean" degreaser (purple bottle) under the car, then sprayed it off with water. It doesn't smell like pot out of the bottle but it could change when heated???

micah202 - 8-14-2014 at 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalearner

I just remembered I used "Super Clean" degreaser (purple bottle) under the car, then sprayed it off with water. It doesn't smell like pot out of the bottle but it could change when heated???

hmm,,definitely a possibility....degreaser would likely leave a residual even with water rinse...I suppose you could do a test with an old frypan or something

.......hopefully that's the last of it...I'm sure your vehicle is more border-friendly than mine with all the sticks,stones,bones on my dash ,,,but nobody needs that added stress!

Sweetwater - 8-14-2014 at 05:21 PM

I would change my cabin air filters if I had a situation like you describe. Once they get an odor in them, it tends to linger.....since cannabis odors are primarily associated with their oil content, it's likely that one of your hoses or lubricants is the culprit. YMMV....

blackwolfmt - 8-14-2014 at 05:32 PM

Do you have any Cast iron ( pot ) in the engine givin you that pot smell, if not I am a connoisseur of fine herbs or pot as you say, there are many smells , bubblegum blueberry pineapple, sour limes my fav, diesel and can't forget skunky ect........ :lol:

micah202 - 8-14-2014 at 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackwolfmt
Do you have any Cast iron ( pot ) in the engine givin you that pot smell, if not I am a connoisseur of fine herbs or pot as you say, there are many smells , bubblegum blueberry pineapple, sour limes my fav, diesel and can't forget skunky ect........ :lol:

...so those aren't palm-trees you're swingin from in your avatar? :wow:

blackwolfmt - 8-14-2014 at 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by micah202

Quote:

...so those aren't palm-trees you're swingin from in your avatar? :wow:

UUHHHGGH!! I don't remember :?:

Lee - 8-14-2014 at 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sweetwater
I would change my cabin air filters if I had a situation like you describe. Once they get an odor in them, it tends to linger.....since cannabis odors are primarily associated with their oil content, it's likely that one of your hoses or lubricants is the culprit. YMMV....

At the checkpoint N. of GN, I got hassled because the 2 pounds of coffee beans (in 1 pound bag baggies), and a sick dog in back I traveled with with the windows up, smelled like cannabis -- I knew it and some military thought it. I say that because they didn't smell cannabis -- they smelled coffee and a sick dog.

It was what it was.

Ateo - 8-14-2014 at 07:38 PM

Spray the car with Lysol. Seat cushions. AC vents.

Other than that, good luck. Lots of comedy in this thread. None in my post though.

Carol - 8-14-2014 at 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalearner
After changing fluids, timing belt....

I work in a Recreation Facility and several years ago we had to change some tension belts on a cardio machine. Immediately afterwards we started getting reports of the area smelling like pot. I smelled it myself and it was pretty convincing. Turns out whatever that particular belt was made of did this when put under the right conditions. We got a better belt and problem was gone.

added- BTW smell was also sometimes described as "Skunky" too

[Edited on 8-15-2014 by Carol]

bajalearner - 8-14-2014 at 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Carol

Quote:

Originally posted by bajalearner
After changing fluids, timing belt....

I think we have something here. I changed the timing and serpentine belts along with the radiator hoses. When I sniffed around for the origin, I gravitated to the hood area although it was hard to be sure because the fan moved the air around.

I am thinking it is/was one of the rubber belts or hoses. I think it is fading so I will wait and hope it goes away. Yes kinda skunky.

Thanks Carol