Burning smell, can't figure it out (dealer also can't find why)
 

Hey guys, quick question. Got a '13 BRZ limited CPO a month ago. As of.. maybe 2~ ish weeks ago? i noticed a slight burning smell (can't figure if its rubber or clutch?) after i get outside of my car. It seems like it's coming from the right side of the car. I've done a quick search and it seems like oil burning/leaking is the common problem.

However, I took my car in last saturday and asked to check for all of those, and the dealer said there weren't any issues with oil burning or anything like that..

so.. what could it be? I can definitely smell it after 15+ minutes of driving, i leave the car, go to passenger side, and smell the front right wheels. Maybe rubber? but why would front right side rubber be burning..?

take your cellphone and turn on video record and stick it down in the front of the engine bay pointed at the bottom of the timing chain cover.

Chances are that you have a leak under the TC cover and it is dripping on your headers.

https://goo.gl/photos/qMXbVYMXNo8TUoJu6

I'm going to ask the stupid question - have you checked to see if there's a plastic bag melted onto the exhaust?

A little history.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...ight=vac+plate

If that's where it's leaking (assuming it's a leak you're smelling), I'd suggest you first tighten the 3 bolts and see if that stops it. If not, you could take off that cover, clean it up good, apply more sealant and replace it.


humfrz

Wouldn't the dealer be able to catch things like this?

also, i can't see the pictures in that thread.. :(

You would think so, now wouldn't you ...... :sigh:

However, not all techs at the dealerships are intimately as familiar with our cars as some of the folks on this forum are.

So, collectively, sometimes we “see” things that the dealers miss (or ignore / dismiss).

Besides, it’s an easy look see for yourself. The “fix” is not much harder.

Most of the time when I take a car into the dealer to have something “fixed”, I already have a good idea what is wrong …… I’m just too lazy to fix it myself.

Now, if that plate is not leaking and you don't find any of @jawn 's plastic bags stuck on the exhaust, you may wish to check the right front brake/wheel bearing/hub.

I suggest you run it for a while (using the brakes a lot) then get out and feel the hub of the right wheel compared to the other side (you might have a bearing that is overheating or a brake pad dragging or a caliper sticking).


humfrz

This may help:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn1OVvswySI"]BRZ GT86 FRS oil leak from cam plate. - YouTube[/ame]


humfrz

So i checked today. And the plates / below engine looks pretty clean.

I get a burning smell too, usually after a longer trip. Mentioned it to a dealer before, they couldn't find anything.

do you smell it still? How long have you known about it? I wonder if its something I just have to live with, although burning smell can't be a good thing at all.. so no way? pretty lost atm.

For me it was leaves in windshield, then humidity and finally mice.

I recommend you to buy a engine foam cleaner and let it sit 5-10min, then rinse off.

hmmm.........have you checked out that right front brake/bearing area ...... ??

Leaking brake line ..??

Sticking caliper .. ??

Can you further describe the burning smell .. ??

Gasoline; oil; clutch disk; brake pads; leaves; antifreeze .... ??
(they all have distinctive odors)


humfrz

I'm at 17,000 miles, yes it still happens. It's definitely a burning rubber smell, maybe plastic. As long as my car doesn't burn down on the freeway it doesn't bother me too much, but I'd like to know what it is too.

I'm not very experienced with car issues - so pleaes excuse my ignorance. this BRZ is the first time I was able to get a car i've always wanted. with that said, i'm completely unsure of what kind of burning smell this is, because i've never smelled burning smell in my previous beater.

Can you perhaps describe what each burning smell differs by?

I'm at 16,000 miles, I'm 75% sure we have the exact same problem ... Hopefully we iron this one out!

Are you both sure its not just your clutch :\

Things that can burn or smell:

Clutch
Engine oil
Brakes
Coolant
Transmission oil
Differential oil
External sources not directly related to car

You need to figure out what it is by trying to replicate the conditions that create the smell...

Does clutch burn smell linger after you're done driving and parked? I've smelled burning clutch before - but for the most part i smell them right away (after i slip too long or something) and then they disappear briefly.

So from my experience, it wouldn't be the clutch because i'm able to smell something burning/burned after i've parked (i usually neutral into my lot so I wouldn't even have touched the clutch) for 5 minutes.

I'll try.

gasoline - smells like the vapors that come off your lawnmower after you overfill it.

oil - smells like a BBQ after you have sprayed Pam on it when grill is hot.

clutch disk - smells like nothing else ..... sort of like a hot/baked/oven mitt, you left in the oven.

brake pads - smells like a burning, hot, stinking piece of wet wood.

antifreeze - smells sort of sweet and alcoholic

caliper - (actually the pad would be burning)

............and then we have electrical insulation, rubber, hot belts

I suggest you ask your co-pilot where they think the smell is coming from and what it smells like ..... :)


humfrz

Maybe your accidentally pushing the nitrous purge button?

The stench of burning clutch can stick around for a while, and the smell of overheated brakes is very similar to my nose (though that can vary a bit with different pad compounds). I had a sticky caliper that would intermittently give me some issues (and smell). I found the issue one day with a small spray of water. Pick up a cheap spray bottle, and fill it with water. The next time you encounter that smell, pull over, and give each rotor a squirt or 2. They will likely all sizzle a bit, but if one is really hot it will steam and sizzle more noticeably than the others...that one will be your problem.

Based on that video I posted above, the dealer is removing my engine as I type.

I took it in for a headlight replacement and said "Have a look under the timing cover".

They said "Yup! your timing chain cover and upper oil pan seals are leaking"
They said engine out and two days to complete the repair.

Car has 35k miles.