Recently all gas stations where I live will be required to have ethanol blended gasoline (already in effect). Does this change the smell of exhaust in any way?

Lately I've been noticing a burning rubbery type of smell when I stop and open the door after regular driving.. popped the hood and didn't notice anything coming from there.. stuck my nose into the wheel well areas and didn't notice anything.. even at idle near the exhaust pipe I don't smell anything really. (I'm not inhaling or anything.. just little whiffs heh).

I'd take it in to the dealer for a check but those gremlins tend to hide in the presence of any technician. Once I brought it in for loud scraping/squealing type noises from the driver side wheel area.. they didn't hear anything.. even took apart the brake assembly and nothing. Noise gone since that day. May have been a rock or something.

 

I had a piece of plastic once touch my exhaust and it stank a bit...
maybe there is something caught on the piping, and only smells when the car is pretty warmed up.

-no belts rubbing?
-e-brake is not lightly on?
-hard use of brakes?
-ummm....
-have you tested checked the heating/air vents..?
-rubbing in the wells?
-uhhhh....
-any spilled fluids in the engine bay?
-hmmm...

if its the gas I would assume you would allways notice it... yes..no?

-ummm....
-you wouldn't by chance be riding the brakes would you?
-do you have an MT?
-clutch slip?
sorry....Im out for the moment...I will ponder further...
keep us posted with your findings...

oh-do you notice it with the AC on?

 

it's MT, the smell is from outside though so don't think it's the vents.

It has been unusually warm outside the last few days, and I may have spilled a tiny amount of washer fluid on refill but where is there something hot nearby that area.

I don't use the brakes hard but I do abuse the clutch :P

would suck if it was the clutch

 

A clutch has a unique smell to it... it doesn't smell like tires, but not too far off from burning hair (organic compound maybe?) It could be something as simple as a small plastic bag that blew under the car while driving and stuck to the hot catalytic converter or exhaust pipe.

But as for the original question, no the exhaust won't smell much different on 10% ethanol.