plastic burning smell coming from engine bay (no smoke)

[etschell]

it only occurs when the car is running for a bit of time (20 mins plus). can anyone give any clues to what this is or maybe suggest a course of action? i checked all my fluids, just had an oil change and timing belt looks good.

[zozoka1212]

Sure it is not oil smell?

Forgot to put dipstick back all the way or oil cap not on it. aybe just pissed some oil when they put oil in. How about your oil filter? Monitor your oil level closely for few days.

zozo

[G_whizz]

The oil would be my first guess! Even more since you stated you recently had it changed.

Maybe the mechanic that changed the oil didn't make the oil drain plug tight enough or didn't put on a washer.

Maybe even a cam seal?

I also just found out that someone had this problem:

"torn CV boot a few weeks ago. It was the one that sits right by the cat, meaning that the rubber got severely heat cycled who knows how many times. It flung a big pile of grease onto the cat, which took weeks to burn off, but yeah, everytime you stop, park, sit in traffic, etc, you'd smell that burning smell."

You may be mistaken and think it's coming from the engine bay.

Please let us know what it is and good luck!

[Jacko3]

My car smells of brake fluid, grease, clutch burn, plastic when i run it really hard for 20 minutes on my secret track. Are you running your car very hard?

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I think we all drive our cars very hard JackO.... where the hell have you been

[Tampa G35 Sedan 6MT]

I think it might be your clutch fluid! I get that alot lately... maybe because of my racing

[Jacko3]

Tampa:

I have been busy of late, trying to work hard for my daily bread. With gas at $4.99 a gallon, things are looking really scary economically these days. How are people really surviving this economy? I have also noticed a rapid incrase in pan-handling, probably a result of this economic downturn.

[zozoka1212]

Tampa:

I have been busy of late, trying to work hard for my daily bread. With gas at $4.99 a gallon, things are looking really scary economically these days. How are people really surviving this economy? I have also noticed a rapid incrase in pan-handling, probably a result of this economic downturn.

Work smarter not harder. j/k

But that is true. Now when the economy is so crap. You have to do something what not many people can or do what you do on the highest level. If you actually enjoy your work and workplace now that is a bonus on the top of that.

zozo

[Jacko3]

Zozo:

Thats right! I want to work smarter, but Jacko can't stop working harder.

[Beancooker]

Look at your Y pipe. I was talking to Mixturepinoy today, and he had a plastic bag get wrapped up on his Y pipe, and it stunk like melting plastic for days.

[Jacko3]

Beano, thanks.