oil smell

[scuba]

whenever i get on my engine hard it smells like there is oil burning - i cant find any oil leak and my oil level itself stays the same - the temp isnt going up and my coolant is fine - any ideas?

 

[fricker66]

I've got a similar case on my car as well. It looks like my front seal has a small leak and some oil is making it's way to the exhaust pipe. Burning off on contact and causes the car to smell after running for awhile. The leak is pretty small as my oil level stays full for the 2,000 mile cycle before the next change. Might want to keep an eye out for any small leaks. Also, is the smell any stronger immediately after having the oil changed? It's hard to keep the filter from leaking oil down the side of the engine when taking it off. My burning smell is usually more noticeable for a couple days following an oil change. Hope this might help.

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Frederick Ricker
89 Black/Grey w/ 80k mi
91 Slicers, 190lph pump

 

[sdpatt]

To confirm what the above post pointed to, you can look on the top heat shield of the front catalytic converter. This converter is positioned strategically below the lower timing belt cover drain port immediately under the crankshaft. You can probably see drops of oil (or coolant) at the bottom of this drain and may see a baked blackness of dirt and oil on the top of the cat heat shield. It cooks pretty good after you get on it a few times and heat up the cat. You can clean off the top of the cold cat with some solvent, but until the seal is replaced, the oil will be back and so will the smell and smoke.

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Scott

1991, 254K miles, glass hood, police grill, SVO shifter, Catz fogs,
K&N, 73mm MAF, Superchip, PP Y-pipe, Borla cat-back, 190 lph pump
Eibach/Tokico/polyurethane, SHO Shop front & rear strut braces,
16x7.5" Moda R1, 225/55ZR16 Bridgestone RE730, -1 deg camber x 4,
6 disc CD, Class II hitch, Silver award at SHOklahoma Car Show

[This message has been edited by sdpatt (edited 01-14-2002).]

 

[scuba]

it just started happening right after my oil change- i checked the oil filter because there was a line of oil running off of it - but i couldnt get it any tighter - ill check the cat though - thanks

 

[Bizzy]

Originally posted by scuba:
it just started happening right after my oil change- i checked the oil filter because there was a line of oil running off of it - but i couldnt get it any tighter - ill check the cat though - thanks

You want to make sure that you DON'T overtighten the oil filter. Instead, you might check that when you changed your oil that you didn't get any oil anywhere or that you cross threaded it when putting the new one on. Try cleaning up a bit. Oil filters should only be hand tight. Also, did you put a little clean oil around the gasket on the oil filter before you replaced it? It acts as kindof a primer/sealer for the gasket.

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Proud to be an American!

Beth
'91 Plus MTX, Mostly stock
K&N Filter, Coneless
Colgan Custom Bra
Racing Series Driving Lights
Mods in the works
Many items on wish list!

[This message has been edited by Bizzy (edited 01-14-2002).]

 

[SW SHO]

I had the same thing after an oil change. I was a sucker for a syntheic additive called Pro-Long. A day after i began having the leak and smell.

I suspect this additive freed up the build up on the oil sensor located above the y-pipe nearest the firewall. I had taken the car back to the oil change shop and they let me look under the car and we could see the sensor was leaking down to the exhaust.

Check this too!

Lance

**edit** you can reach this oil sensor with one hand, but it is best reached from under the car for replacement. It has a red capped wire over the nut/bolt on end of sensor.

[This message has been edited by SW SHO (edited 01-16-2002).]