The catalyst smell

[Rupert]

My buddy says he sometimes smells something sweet while he's driving, and he knows that he has a bad catalytic converter. I certainly wouldn't suspect the two would be related, but it occurred to me that I have no idea what, if anything, a dead/dying/damaged catalytic converter would smell like. Anyone?

[Danish]

Maybe he is running biodiesel with oil from a donut shop?

Catalysts contain platinum and paladium (i think); I highly doubt it would smell sweet

[Byteme]

Maybe he is running biodiesel with oil from a donut shop?

Catalysts contain platinum and paladium (i think); I highly doubt it would smell sweet

I read somewhere that they can give off a rotten egg smell.  But that was years ago.

[Pancor]

Coolant?  My sled blew a coolant hose last night and it tasted great.   

[VTEC_Inside]

Coolant?  My sled blew a coolant hose last night and it tasted great.   

That is most likely considering the sweet smell...

[Ron From Regina]

Does he notice it when his heat is on? My guess is the heater core might be leaking a little, and he is smelling the coolant.

[Rupert]

Coolant?  My sled blew a coolant hose last night and it tasted great.   

That's what I said, but I couldn't rule out the catalyst yet.

Thanks all!

[280Z Turbo]

Coolant?  My sled blew a coolant hose last night and it tasted great.  

Oh.

You're probably a bit stupider today they you were last night due to ethylene glycol poisioning.

[r0tor]

coolant is a sweet smell, a blown cat is most definitely a rotten egg smell