Was driving my 2015 Nissan Leaf (50k miles, 10/12 battery bars) today and got a pretty intense smell very similar to natural gas/propane in the cockpit. I turned off the defrost and it seemed to dissipate a bit, but so strange. No warning lights, and it was heating fine. I looked through the forums and couldn't find anyone who has had same problem. Could it be the heat pump going out? There was a lot of snow/slush on road and on hood of car. Maybe air intake blocked? I'm at a loss.
Smell of Natural Gas/Propane
- Thread starter etalk
- Start date
Help Support My Nissan Leaf Forum:
To me, NG and Propane smell different and I can't think of what would smell that way on your car. There is coolant, like a conventional car uses and of course R134a refrigerant for the heat pump, but those don't smell like a flammable gas to me. Hard to describe smells, I know.
Good question, as the odor added to propane for safety reasons is sometimes described as a "rotten egg" smell.
henrydehoja
Well-known member
Check the condition of your cabin filter. It may be dirty and the cause of the smell.
Also, this past forum thread may be of help.
Also, this past forum thread may be of help.
Now that the snow has all melted off, I have not gotten the odor again in subsequent drives. Replacing the cabin air filter seems like a good first start. Ordered one and will go that route.
I was thinking dead animal as well, but have had that happen in other vehicles and that is definitely a smell I am familiar with!
Thank you all for the suggestions. Was just worried that it was a bad cell off-gassing or something.
I was thinking dead animal as well, but have had that happen in other vehicles and that is definitely a smell I am familiar with!
Thank you all for the suggestions. Was just worried that it was a bad cell off-gassing or something.
