THat smell is worrying me.

[longrunQ]

The car drives smooth (for 163 k miles anyhow) but it has this burning oil smell that I smell everytime I get out of the car.

Its not bad, but its scary, especially since I know nothing about cars.

The transmission works great and the engine too.

Could this be a fuel injector problem?

[PalmerWMD]

Longrun:

If its as you described it almost certainly a small seal leak near the exhaust manifold.Either that, or at your last oil change/topoff some oil got spilled (also not uncommon)

Even a very very small oil leak in some seals can get oil on the manifold with the resulting smell you mentioned.(And assuming your oil levels are more or less constant it will be a small leak)

Most likely will disapear when you redo your seals someday.

unless the smell is really really excessive or embarrases the car in your eyes, its nothing to worry about.

Fred...

PS: When checking oil levels, remember the car is very sensitive to not being on level ground, also what with the oil activated VVT, it takes along time to have the oil drain into the pan. members have reported best results with letting the car sit at least a couple of hours , better even overnight ,before checking the oil)

[firstq]

When were the valve covers resealed?

Those perhaps go first - fairly easy to visually identify from the top.

[AZhitman]

LongRun - Have a thorough steam cleaning of the engine bay from top to bottom. This will help you ID any leaks - if it is as Fred says, you'll be better able to tell.

My bet would be a valve cover gasket.

[longrunQ]

thanks guys. You all have been really, really helpful since I got my car.

I'll check the valve covers and do the steam cleaning thing and hope I find the leak.

thanks again y'all

[DAEDALUS]

I'll put my money on the valve cover gaskets too. Put on a latex glove and slide your hand around the perimeters of the valve covers. If it comes up wet or grimy, that's it.An interesting "tool" I just got is a UV leak detection kit. It comes with different types of dyes for the various fluids in a car, a UV lamp, and visibility goggles. You put some dye in with the fluid, be it oil, brake fluid, transmission, R-12, etc, run the car for 5-10 minutes, and then get under there with the lamp and the goggles. The leaks light right up.

[911/Q45]

Valve cover oil leaks leave a stain on the exhaust header and you can also see it from under the car as drips at the rear of the valve cover. Resealing is a pretty big job, probably best done in conjunction with plenum removal and hose etc replacement.

[longrunQ]

I just got back from a mechanic and he told me that it was the oil sending unit that was causing the problem. COst: $30

This was before he messed up my hood latch and caused my car to start dying after starting. He had disconnected a hose and I dont know what the heck he did to mess up the hood latch. Anyhow, he fixed them back.

So I am keeping my fingers crossed. On tuesday I take it to the shop and it should be a ten minute job. Man! I'll be so happy if its just the sending unit .

[PalmerWMD]

I just got back from a mechanic and he told me that it was the oil sending unit that was causing the problem. COst: $30

So I am keeping my fingers crossed. On tuesday I take it to the shop and it should be a ten minute job. Man! I'll be so happy if its just the sending unit .

That's great news!!

Fred...

[longrunQ]

the shop replaced the oil sending unit and it was still burning oil.

I took it back to the shop and paid $50 to have the underside all cleaned and have some uv dye put in the oil to find any sources of leaks. I have to drive it 100 miles then take it back to the shop.

When I opened the hood as soon as I got to the shop today, I could see the smoke coming from the engine. It was from the left side. It had always been from the left side, when viewing from the front , and it was coming from down low somewhere. He said that it was some oil leaking onto the exhaust. DUH

Has anyone had a similar problem?

[longrunQ]

also, I dont know for what reason, but after the mech cleaned the engine and added the dye, I am now smelling a buring rubber smell that I did not have before.

could this be related to the cleaning or are these guys messing up my car?

[DAEDALUS]

100 miles is way, way, way too much if the leak is enough that the smell is bothering you. At that point, there will be dye everywhere that there's oil. You want the dyed leaks to show as early as possible with the UV in order to pinpoint their origin. 5 minutes with the engine idling is probably enough. I found a pretty big leak at the oil pan. I am not equipped to remove the pan, so I cleaned the area very well repeatedly with a can of Brakleen and then just buttered up the seam with a thick fillet of RTV. It's been 2 weeks, and has so far been a good fix. Took me all of 1/2 hour to find the leak and then apply the RTV, plus the 24 to cure. Oil on the exhaust manifold is most surely the valve covers leaking. The good news is that the passenger side is far easier to fix than the driver's side. The bad news, of course, is that the driver's side might not be too far behind. You could probably reseal the driver's side cover in 4 hours if you worked steadily, though the RTV will need a day to cure. You could try the quick temporary fix, though working around the valve cover perimeter will be difficult. Also, retorque the bolts using a torque wrench--it might slow the leak down some.

[Q45tech]

Just the typical valve cover reseal that all cars [brands and models] need eventually...... at 163k you are overdue!We charge $500 to redo both covers [unless a traction or active car], good time to have the under plenum hoses [another $600 at the same time] changed and lots of miscellaneous stuff attended too.....EGR/plenum/ TB cleaning.How are your knock sensors they also need to be measured and checked for heat damage.

If it is a 90-92.5/93 have the chain guides been replaced? Are the oxygen sensors covered with burnt oil [common] they should have been replaced at 100k.

.