Burning smell from engine

[David Crist]

I have a 2000 OBW with 140,000 miles. When I park the car after a few
miles driving, there is a strong smell of burning fluid. The local
repair shop has cleaned the engine compartment and driven the car, but
cannot find evidence of fluid leaking on to a hot surface. Any ideas?

 

[Clifford Heath]

I have a 2000 OBW with 140,000 miles. When I park the car after a few
miles driving, there is a strong smell of burning fluid. The local
repair shop has cleaned the engine compartment and driven the car, but
cannot find evidence of fluid leaking on to a hot surface. Any ideas?

Could be cam cover gaskets, leaking tiny amounts of oil onto the hot exhaust.
You'll see signs of burnt oil on the exhausts, if you can get under there to
see. Usually not much of a problem until there's too much leakage, and it's
a couple of hours labor to fix.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I have a 2000 OBW with 140,000 miles. When I park the car after a few
miles driving, there is a strong smell of burning fluid. The local
repair shop has cleaned the engine compartment and driven the car, but
cannot find evidence of fluid leaking on to a hot surface. Any ideas?

If it smells like toasted marshmallows (sweet) that is coolant(check
your coolant level immediately.)
If it smells very nasty - probably CV joint grease escaping from a split
boot and splattering on the exhaust. Of course, there are half a dozen
other things(including a plastic bag or other road debris on the
exhaust). But those and the oil mentioned earlier are the most likely.


Carl

 

[Bob Bailin]

I have a 2000 OBW with 140,000 miles. When I park the car after a few
miles driving, there is a strong smell of burning fluid. The local
repair shop has cleaned the engine compartment and driven the car, but
cannot find evidence of fluid leaking on to a hot surface. Any ideas?

Check for torn CV joint boots. CV grease may be getting flung onto the
exhaust.

 

[Al]

I have a 2000 OBW with 140,000 miles. When I park the car after a few
miles driving, there is a strong smell of burning fluid. The local
repair shop has cleaned the engine compartment and driven the car, but
cannot find evidence of fluid leaking on to a hot surface. Any ideas?

Is the smell from the engine compartment or does it come from the heater
ducts? Sometimes noxious stuff gets sucked into the intake of the heater
and then smells up the car.

BTW, as I kid, I know someone who got even with a nasty friend by pouring
a little milk into the heater intakes below the windshield of his car.
There was a nice smell for many moons under those conditions.

Al

 

[David Crist]

Engine compartment. In response to other suggestions, the CV boots
were torn and replaced. The surfaces were thoroughly cleaned and the
burning smell persists. The mechanic says the burning fluid smells
like axle grease, but cannot find a source.

 

[Ray]

Engine compartment. In response to other suggestions, the CV boots
were torn and replaced. The surfaces were thoroughly cleaned and the
burning smell persists. The mechanic says the burning fluid smells
like axle grease, but cannot find a source.

You'd be amazed at how far fluids can get flung. There could still be some
on the exhaust somewhere or possibly one of your new ones wasn't secured
well enough and it's leaking. All you can do is keep cleaning and keep
looking.