Okay, not me, but my 2005 xB that has 77,000 miles on it.

On a cold start, when I back out of the driveway with the window down, I drive through what smells in the exhaust like unburned fuel or perhaps burnt oil, or maybe something else (how's that for specifics?). (When my wife's Subaru did this, we ended up replacing the head gaskets... but that was at 130,000 miles.)

I bought the xB from a Honda dealer, and I'm still within my 90-day powertrain warranty if it's anything serious.

Any ideas what it might be?

Thanks!

I really like this forum, BTW.

 

does it have the stock exhaust? how long has it done this? If it has been since you got the car and if it has an aftermarket exhaust that removes a cat converter that may be what you are smelling

 

Good point. I'll check that. Thanks!

 

not a problem

 

mine without the convertor definately has a smell to it... but never did before the delete...

Chris K.

 

Also, if for some reason the exhaust was recently replaced, new exhausts tend to smell for a bit until they're broken in. My old TRD smelled really funny for the first couple weeks.

 

That smell is just unburnt gas, since its a cold start the catalytic converter is not up to tempature and not doing its job. I experience the same thing on cold starts backing up from the garage.