AC/Heater smell my Taco has a bad smell when I'm at idle or at stop light...

I suspect some gasket leak over hot manifold. I'm not 100% sure but it has been occurring the past 2-3 months. I have a quote for about $300 bucks for manifold gasket replacement + parts. I'd do the work myself but the time is something I can't spare for my family. Any thoughts??

 

What kind of smell? Burning oil? Or smells like eggs?

 

When I smelled oil through my ac it was my valve covers and half moons. Loosing a quarter every 5k miles when I changed my oil and rotated my tires. Saw it dripping off my rack while I was parked once it was bad enough.

 

Not sure if it's smells likes eggs but it's not nice. I don't smell it while driving but only when I'm stopped for a bit of time. I thought it was just heater element with some 'mold'. I'd try to do gasket replacement myself but not sure I can take risk me messing or missing something up...

 

I plan on looking over all my engine bay this weekend to see where it maybe coming from. Wish me luck..

 

reach behind the heads.

 

if you don't find any oil leak perhaps try the BG A/C evaporator treatment
that stuff is 'supposed' to freshen things up in the HVAC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NPEZHCtCfw

....

or perhaps something like this

$37 GENUINE TOYOTA APPROVED S.E.T. SERVICERITE AC EVAPORATOR REFRESH KIT 00053-00008

https://www.amazon.com/GENUINE-APPR...&qid=1573829779&sprefix=bg+fri,aps,167&sr=8-2

 

I have the exact same problem, took some pictures of the oil, I’m thinking it’s the valve cover but would like the opinions of people with more experience

 

I would use some full strength Simple Green to clean that. Then tighten down the accessible valve cover bolts. I used a small ignition wrench. Don’t over torque the bolts.

 

I have the same problem. My valve cover gaskets are leaking. Going to take the project this winter when i'm bored. Same cabin smell, its most likely oil hitting the manifold and the smell making its way into the cabin from being stopped.

 

Just don't nix the moons. Read the sticky above. It's usually the moons doing most of the dripping.

 

Yeah looks much like mine when I started to look. I only smell it at stop lights at time so I guess it's a hit or miss on when it accumulates/leaks. I'm taking my taco in to a local mom/pop auto place to look at. They said labor was about $310 for gasket replacement. If I had the skill and spare vehicle I'd do it myself but alas I got to have it done somehow!