Are you smelling sulfur or mildew? Two diff. problem. If you only smell it when you accelerate, then it a sulfur problem. TSB or diff. gas should fix that. If you only smell it when you 1st turn on your HVAC system, without the AC on, then it a mildew problem in your ductwork. A can of disinfectant should take care of that.

Good Luck

 

I'm definitely smelling sulfur and mostly upon acceleration.

 

What kind of gas do you use, barnd and octane? NY should have the low sulfur gas in place already.

 

I use the 89 octane (has 10% ethanol) from my corner station "US Petroleum."
I know what you're thinking... never heard of them and I should go with a better known gas company. The station I use is usually 3-5c cheaper per gallon and I have never experienced any other issues with it. Regardless, it still doesn't explain how, while driving at highway speeds in most cases, that the odor can creep up front into the vents which are located below the front windshield. What do you think? Any theories?

 

The sulfur smell is from the built up of sulfur in your catalytic converter, but if your dealer check that already, then the catalytic converter must be ok. Have you perform the sulfur TSB yet, I heard that works sometimes.

I am not sure how it makes it way up thru the vents, but its quite common. I have the same problem too when I gun my engine sometimes. The only theory I have is maybe there is sulfur built up in your engine as well.

Try using a diff. gas station, use top tier gas. I would try the shell super unleaded for a month or so, it is suppose to have the most cleaning agents in it. You can make up for that 3 to 5 cent diff. at the cheap gas staion by getting a credit card that will give you 3% rebate at gas station and sometime gas station have discount prices on Sunday or Monday.

 

The smell is a well documented Toyota engine problem.

 

My next service will be in about 2-3 months. I will try to invoke the 2006 GX TSB for my 2005 GX at that time. In the mean time, I'll try Shell or Mobil Super Unleaded. Do you know how many fill-ups or miles it might take to notice any effect?

Tx!

 

AutoZone currently selling Gumout Regane Complete Fuel System Cleaner free after rebate. SOPUS owns Gumout and is the parent company of Shell.
Buy only the yellow bottle since it has 30-40% of PEA, one of the better fuel additives that is proven to have good cleaning ability.
If I were you, I would try 87 octane rated gas at Costco to make sure the engine a good burn of the gas. Add Gumout Regane for a good dose of additives. That combo makes your gas > Shell V Power.

If you are using SL engine oil, consider switching to SM rated engine oil since they are lower in sulfur and phosphorus.

 

Off Topic here, but while your at this, why not get a bottle of GM's EOS added during your next oil change. I hear it works wonders on the cam lobes...

 

it took me a month of switching gas grades and gas brand, it took atleast 4 fills , but you have too run your fuel down to near empty ,
The G Man , thanks for the Shell update I'll be buying at Shell and earning a few extra incentives

 

I use mobil myself, they are not on the list of top tier gas, I wonder why?

 

I was driving last night and noticed something strange. When I get on the gas pedal with the AC on Recirculate, the odor crept right in. I cleared out the cabin by opening the windows and came to a stop. I then left the AC on but turned the Recirculate off. Again, I accelerated hard for a while and for some reason the odor did not come in the cabin. This is getting too weird for me.

 

Could possibly be a vacuum leak???

 

i had a smelly a/c problem whenever i turned it on. finally had the microfilter replaced, the one that leads to the cabin when I did my oil change and brakes done and the smell is gone.

 

UPDATE: The dealer applied TSIB EG004-06 "Excessive Sulfur Odor" fix to my 2005 GX. One month later and I'm odor free! This fix worked for me. It wasn't the gas I was using. The fix was over $1,800 but $0 for me! I recommend this fix for fellow GXers who are experiencing a similar problem.