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I smell exhaust fumes all the time

I have been smelling exhaust fumes where none exist for about 2 weeks now. I can be in the shower or laying in bed and the smell won't go away, it smells like i'm in an enclosed garage with a gas powered vehicle running. Is this common?, I have never had any allergies.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for sharing your posts. This was happening to me when I was in a lot of stress and it was good to find I was not alone. HERE IS WHAT HELPED ME!  I went to my CHIROPRACTOR and told him how I suffered for weeks. He adjusted my upper cervical vertebrae (atlas, occiput ) and my jaw. He gently held pressure  and tugged on the plates of my skull in a particular area and a certain direction.  WOW! Immediate relief. The smell started coming back the next day so I went back to him. He repeated the treatment and I have been EXHAUST SMELL FREE EVER SINCE! ( for months)  He is in Central Massachusetts at Hope Wellness and Rehab. If that isn't close to you, Try to find someone in someone in your area.  Good luck and may you be scent free soon!
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1 Comments
hmm... very interesting, I do usually have back pain, all over the place, neck pain, etc... due bad posture when sitting for too long, even after I go to sleep and wake up some of these back pains doesn't go away.

It could be a plausible cause.
Avatar universal
Sometimes when people smell something when the smell is out of place or time, such as toast in the middle of the night when the toaster is not in use, or fumes when none are present (other trusted people deny them), this phenomena can be the result of an 'uncinate fit.'  Basically, the brain is stressed for some reason and this is a response to it.  'Uncinate fits' typically occur when someone is under quite a bit of stress or has had some other metabolic stress such as a trip to the dentist or a change in medications.  Best to play it safe and speak to medical professional.  I had uncinate fits during stressful times in medical school.   Hope this helps.  PeterDPT
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Avatar universal
Just like everybody else, first I am relieved that I am not insane, and/or some people were insane just like me. First started in my car, I usually spend a lot of time in my car so I was like okay there is something wrong with my exhaust system. Then I started smelling it everywhere I go for the past 4 days now. It is really annoying and I'd be talking to people while not giving **** about what they say because all I think about is that "exhaust smell" that never goes away.
Anyway, I read about it a lot and they said Saline solution would help. Unfortunately it did nothing, quite the opposite, I started smelling it even stronger after using the solution.
I had the first doze of Covid vaccine 12 days ago and I read that it might be one of the rare side effects. Hope it goes away soon because if I am not insane now, I definitely will very soon.
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Avatar universal
I just wanted to share the great news & day thank you! I can finally smell normal again!!! I was put on the antibiotic Augmentin-Cultavate (not sure on the spelling) from my PCP & it took about 12 hrs for one nostril to clear half way up. 24 hrs for the other & only halfway, but still some on and off smell if exhaust. 4 days on antibiotics I still have a little pressure in the forehead area but my exhaust smell seems to be decreasing & I can finally take a full deep breathe of whatever is around me! Hallelujah!!! :) Yay!!

Please share the regimen I was doing with others. I knoooowwww they will find a relief in this inexpensive option to try to smell normal smells again. (See below):

*Augmentin-Cultavate (check my chart for dosage)
*Nedi-pot x2 per day
*Vicks Vapor Nasal Decongestant Stick (OTC) as needed
*Tilt head in upside down position and alternate sides while sleeping. This helped a lot with the pressure, headache & cleared my passage while sleeping.
*A lot of water!

Thanks again for sharing so I know I'm not alone with this situation and I'm not losing my mind. LOL!

Stay safe!
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Avatar universal
I don't have an answer, but I also have the exhaust fume smell and sometimes it is accompanied by nausea.  It has been going on for years.  I can be sitting in front of my computer or even when I was at the service desk of my job.  I always just thought it had something to do with one of the medications that I take.  I do take a lot of medicine.  Metformin, Meloxicam, Methotrexate, Lisinopril/HTCZ, Gabapentin, Gemfribrozil, Atorvastatin, Naproxen, 325mg asprin, and Hydrocodone/Acetamin.  
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Avatar universal
I have the same issue, and the smell started after I was stuck in traffic inhaling School Bus / Truck exhaust during rush hour for a very long time.

Since then now I always have this phantom smell that nobody can smell but me.

For the first couple of days, I tried to shower really hard with all kind of stuff, and shampoo hard too, and even stay in the bathtub for hours hoping the smell will go away, but nothing worked.

The phantom smell only comes back when the air is odourless, if we are cooking, or drinking coffee / tea, or anything with some odour, it will go away.

but then I'm calm the annoying bus exhaust smell comes back, and sometimes I can even taste the bitterness in my tongue, and sometimes it gets so strong that makes me feel like I'm getting nausea, just like the day when I was trapped in traffic with the damn bus / truck fuming me.

I had the car windows closed, but the air intake was still pumping it in.

At this point as suggested in one of the replies, It might just be all in my mind, as I was really stressed that day, or it could be the Bone thing siting on a nerve as suggested on another reply.

Anyway if this continue I'll need to see a Doctor to fix me up, because this smell seems to be getting stronger as the day goes by.
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4 Comments
Just glad I'm not the only person smelling gas fumes when no one else does. Guess I need to see an ENT.
For anyone experiencing the constant smell of gasoline like the world smells like gas.  There's an easy remedy to this.  First find out what you are doing differently that brought this on... did you start drinking, change diet or take vitamins ect... this has changed something chemically inside your system and may take a week or so to return to normal.  Meanwhile go to the store and buy a bag of mint o green lifesavers.  This will cure your smelly problem which is attributed to reflux, gurd or whatever is bringing on the smelly issue.  
I am in tears right now. I was certain I was the only one who is being driven to the edge of insanity by a persistent gasoline smell. It's been a little over a week and I've tried a vaporizer, hit shower, anything I can think of to get even a moment's peace. I've been using Afrin for about 5 years now and I'm guessing this is the reason for my current hell. I've tried quitting it many times but I somehow got addicted to being able to breathe. Joke's on me now, with every breath I feel like a puck up truck is dumping their exhaust straight up my nose. I'm so grateful I found this site. Think this is my wake up call to actually try to get away from the Afrin for good. I just hope it makes this go away. It really is driving me crazy  I have a container of fresh ground coffee next to me as suggested by another member of this page and it is helping, alot. Thanks for being here y'all.
Did you find out the cause or cure? Same smell for me.
Avatar universal
I had many curious symptoms along with the odor and was eventually confirmed to be cancer on the base of tongue/throat.  Been clear for 6 months, but the odor is back.  Also think being depleted in basic minerals/vitamins is a cause,  Go to an ENT if you also have a cough, sore throat, numbness etc
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3 Comments
I have the same issue - the very strong smell of exhaust fumes that do not leave until after a nights sleep.  But I have figured out where they come from - I seem to have become hypersensitive to Apple products.  Working on my computer was where it started - then eventually I started smelling my iPhone or my husbands iPhone or iPad whenever it was in the room or car.  If I am going to a client appointment I have to put my briefcase with my Mac in the trunk.  If I go on vacation and stay away from the computer or can really, really limit my use, the hypersensitivity will go away but as soon as I start spending hours on my phone or computer it starts all over again.  Anyone else notice if the smell starts when they are around computers or phones a lot?  What I'm wondering is what are these products off-gassing that I've become so sensitive to?  A little scary to think about what may be in these fumes.  I also can get headaches after a while from being on my computer too long.
What kind of Apple do you have? I use a Mac Mini with metal casing? I have found that they give off very high stray voltage which enters the body. Perhaps a voltage overdose could be the cause. I have measured the exact excess voltage in my body when I am next to the Mac. It varies from 50-100 v This has put me off using Apple.
You are not imagining this!! Did you see the Wikileaks documents that prove the Apple corporation has been deliberately releasing scent as a part of their behavior modification program. It has to do with psychological cues to encourage people to become dependent on the products, thus increasing sales.
Avatar universal
Mine turned out to be silent reflux, had no clue because I felt no pain or heartburn from any specific foods, but all my problems were sinus related.  Antibiotics didn't make a difference and the gasoline smell came and went.  I assumed after reading as much as I could it was an infection I couldn't get rid of after my sinus surgery.  I only got clued in finally after I used my neti pot and a very small piece of lettuce came out of my nostril from dinner the night before, I told my ENT and the silent reflux was finally discovered.  The gasoline smell is quite an awful experience, but it also killed my sense of smell.
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Avatar universal
ive had this happning to me for over ten years ,exactly what you describe ,ive always been of the impression that an organisation has done this to me on purpose ,I had a Mormon girlfriend who left me in bad circumstances since then ive been sick from petrol smell and exhaust also the burning spicy smell ,ive have pain all over my body from breathing ,I have investigated where smells come from and always a car or truck or bus or machinery like road works in the wind creating the smell ,ive never concluded that Im imagining these fumes and smells ,because car dosent have to be outside your place to creat fumes fumes travel with the wind ,ive moved house over 5 times to get away from it ,it always comes back few days after I move into new place ,im convinced that this is being done to me diliberatley more than likely by the Mormons
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2 Comments
You're absolutely right. It is the Mormons. I have proof. Call me.
Wow. I've been smelling car exhaust like fumes  for hours today. I seven from acid reflux's and every morning I've been waking up with the choking feeling and very uncomfortable problems with your's difficult to breathe and difficulty swallowing I'm very upset find the fumes  just like you are. I think it's raining to think that somebody else could be causing this but since it happens out here in the house on the ocean is it also happens on 54th St. in the city to me at least I don't feel so alone anymore. I do feel this something  just smell all these horrible a few reasons to feel so sick with then feeling and not know what to do I had to deal with it. It seems crazy to call the police to go to the emergency room with those the only two things I keep coming up and and my doctor said go to the one we just returned my call just now but he's in the ENT doctor . I'm so freaked out I hope your situation gets better I hope we find the answer to this problem and it goes away I hope you feel better and I hope I feel better. I hate this feeling.  I wish there was an  answer as to what to do about it. Anyway feel better thanks for sharing
Avatar universal
Two days of Zyrtec, a hot, steaming shower, nasal decongestant spray (like Afrin) and no more smell! For me, it's definitely sinus related. No gerd, no epilepsy, no hallucinations, etc.
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Avatar universal
Yes! Sounds very much like what I have been experiencing for a couple of months now. Mine began with the overuse of OTC nasal decongestants, though. I used them daily for about 4 months. Around the 3rd month, when I noticed I was losing my senses of taste and smell, I finally suffered through quitting the sprays. That was 2 months ago. Gradually, smell and taste have returned somewhat but over the past week or so, I've noticed that weird exhaust smell. Sometimes it's like a mixture of burnt coffee, exhaust fumes, and poop! It's really irritating and affects the taste and smell of almost everything. I found a website that said parosmia and phantosmia frequently occur either when olfactory nerouns are dying, or when they're regenerating. Let's hope it's the latter!
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1 Comments
Resulted from base of tongue cancer (me)
Avatar universal
Mine has been going on for years.. off and on. It started when I used to drive an older work van and then I would get home and attribute it to the smell being still in my nose or my computer putting off fumes.
Today I have been smelling it all day and has made me SO nauseous so it dawned on me to google the question.
So good to know other people have the same thing. I have never asked a doctor about it because it comes and goes and I thought my car was putting off fumes? Yes very bad sinus problems and I have been thinking I had sinus cancer already?
But very good to know this could be a REAL PROBLEM!! and not in my head!
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Avatar universal
Interesting. I smelt exhaust after spending an immense amount of hours painting. I barely slept. Then I started smelling fumes everywehere. I was painting with oils, but that wasn't the smell that lingured. So I wondered if the smell was related to a kind of stress and over working..
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Avatar universal
Interesting. I smelt exhaust after spending an immense amount of hours painting. I barely slept. Then I started smelling fumes everywehere. I was painting with oils, but that wasn't the smell that lingured. So I wondered if the smell was related to a kind of stress and over working.. You indicate that it could be...
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Avatar universal
I have been smelling exhaust fumes/carbon monoxide for a few weeks currently.  I have been prone to sinus infections for a few years now. The antibiotic Biaxin has been the solution for the sinus infections.  Actually this smell started about a month ago, as the sinus infection symptoms increased, headache fatigue, sore throat and chronic sinus drip.  While taking Biaxin for 20 days the smell was daily. My sinuses are clear, but the smell remains.   I have been off the Biaxin for 4 days.  
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Avatar universal
Interesting reading everyone's comments - Ive always had a good sense of smell - however after having all my teeth extracted in June 2014 it's become a nightmare.  For quite awhile I would swear someone was smoking a cigarette near me - even while sitting in my own house - we are non smokers - however the last couple of months I now feel like im living with my head inside a car exhaust.
It's driving me crazy - no-one else can smell it - we have gas appliances at home - these have checked out to be all ok - sort of knew it was as I now smell it in my car - at work and at various other times  - it's driving me insane - so i googled - why do i keep smelling carbon monoxide and almost leapt with joy to see that there are many others with the same issues.  I don't know why but it's only been since my teeth were done and i wear full dentures.
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Avatar universal
Candida (yeast/fungus) Overgrowth is most likely responsible for the breath and many other symptoms that may be going on at the same time or recently.  GERD, IBS, Acid Reflux, Water that causes Acid Reflux,  Migraine Headache (can be caused by) High Blood Pressure, Low Body Temperature, Nausea, Vomiting, Dripping Sinuses, and much more. In fact there are so many symptoms it seems that almost anything could be Candida. Candida usually starts out small and gets more aggressive over time especially with the help of antibiotics which allow it to flourish. It's important to find someone who really knows how to treat this because the longer you have it, the harder it is to get rid of. Over time it gets harder to test for as it gets deeper into the weak areas of your body. It's difficult to get under control and almost impossible to get rid of completely. If you suffer from this, and 1 in 3 people do, it's important to find someone who knows how to fight candida overgrowth and not just put you an a special diet with probiotics, because that won't help you when it gets so bad you can smell the chemicals it makes when it dies off.
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Avatar universal
I have been having this same problem with smelling gas engine exhaust. My wife who has a sensitive nose, doesn't smell anything. I tried several things.  The smell comes and goes. It seems to start in the evening.  I tried several things to get rid of it.  
The things that worked for me were:  I went outside to breath fresh air and it stopped immediately.  After being back in the house awhile it would come back.  Since we live in Florida, l wondered if it was the dry air conditioned air.    The outside air is always damp.  
I tried to breath in steam from a hot cup of water. It stops the smell immediately.  However it does not last long.
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1 Comments
hmm... very interesting, will try this simple solution for the time being.
Avatar universal
I have been having this same problem with smelling gas engine exhaust. My wife who has a sensitive nose, doesn't smell anything. I tried several things.  The smell comes and goes. It seems to start in the evening.  I tried several things to get rid of it.  
The things that worked for me were:  I went outside to breath fresh air and it stopped immediately.  After being back in the house awhile it would come back.  Since we live in Florida, l wondered if it was the dry air conditioned air.    The outside air is always damp.  
I tried to breath in steam from a hot cup of water. It stops the smell immediately.  However it does not last long.
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Avatar universal
Yesterday morning when I woke I smelled a strong odor. Within a few seconds I realized it was car exhaust fumes. I went in the kitchen, I smelled it there also. This is going into the second day. Its making me nauseated. Now a headache is creeping up. I began looking all through my bedroom, throughout the rest of the house. Even went outside walking the exterior of the whole place. Last year I moved in with a roommate into a mobile home. A month later there was a fire, we barley got out. We lost everything. Now I keep searching every plug, stove the hole drilled for the cable as I'm worried it may be something which could start a fire. This has been quite stressful all day but now since I am aware others are experiencing the same I can mentally rest. Making doctors appointment tomorrow. I asked a friend that stopped by, also my roommate, they both said they didn't smell it. At least I know I'm not going nuts...although if I cant get rid of this smell it could be a short trip. lol  well word back when I find out something. So thankful for this site.   bc
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2 Comments
My smells started less than two weeks ago and it's really really hard to deal with
My smells started less than two weeks ago and it's really really hard to deal with
Avatar universal
I believe mine is from the actual absorption of gasoline through the skin.  I was working on my truck, pull the fuel line off and was sprayed with it.  I was wet with gas up to my elbows.  My shirt was sprayed as well.  I continued working for a couple more hours.  How long will I be tasting and smelling the gas I absorbed?  
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Avatar universal
Omg!! I'm so relieved to have found this website! I've been having phantom smell for about 6 months now although it started with a smell that was really hard to describe..almost like a garlicy/onion smell and it always seemed to get stronger if there was running water..taking a shower or doing dishes, etc. The smell is so strong it overpowers any other smell..perfume, air freshener..anything! EVERYTHING had this garlicy/onion smell. Well about 4 months ago I started smelling a different phantom smell..like burning pancakes..or that smell that lingers after cooking breakfast. Well just recently it's exhaust fumes! I' had pretty much convinced myself I had a brain tumor until I came across this website! I did have a pretty bad sinus infection  almost a year ago. I never went to the doctor but I couldn't smell or taste anything and I could hear the fluid in my ears when I would turn over..and I lost my voice for almost a week. But I was never congested? It was almost as if everything was on the inside?!  Well ever since then my smell and taste have not been the same. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Has anyone gotten a definite diagnosis?
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Avatar universal
I also just started this issue with smelling an intense smell of gasoline engine exhaust.  This seems to be present about 25-75% of my day.  It seems to be most intense when I am sitting watching TV or at My computer.  2 different rooms.  

I read through many of the posts.  Thank you for all the people who posted. I will give many of the home remedies a try.  

My wife confirmed it wasn't in our house or me.

I made a visit to my doctor and they are doing some tests to determine the cause.  
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Avatar universal
I have the same. I smell exhaust all the time for weeks. I got myself spirulina to get rid of heavy metals in the body. Maybe that's causing it. Also I am doing a sinus cleanse and colon cleanse as all that is connected with a nose.
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