There's also oil seep from the driver side head that is pretty common on the FA20.. if it's not the passenger side block off plate leaking oil it's almost 100% garunteed to be the head seep seal issue. Mine has this issue, discovered it when installing the Perrin engine mounts... Oil seeping from the head and sensor area gets on the header and gets heated up...and drops onto the top of the aluminum engine bay cover.

Of course to fix it properly will require pulling the motor, so you can get the head off and resealed... Boxer motors suck for dealing with head oil seal issues.

I constantly check my dipstick, things have been looking fine so far but I'll start looking closer and seeing if there's any different between hard driving and oil changes. Ahhhhhh it's been like this for awhile but with all these possible answers to the black ash stuff I'm getting worried haha

That would probably explain that burning smell I get easily. Not even hard driving, just driving for more than 15 minutes haha. Is it dangerous?
I've heard our cars are known to have oil cooling issues, but would the seeping along with the heating cause major issues?
I've driven from NorCal to SoCal (7 hour ride at 80+mph) without any issue.. 7 times...

Don't worry too much but do get it checked. If it looks like ash and not dust and stuff stuck to the oil then I am sticking by my belt theory. My old Talon used to chew up belts like they were candy and from what I can tell on my poor old monitor that looks just like it.


http://www.conrac.us/images/monochrome/V44.jpg

I've had the burning oil smell for LOONG time... Like from within the first month of getting the car, and I've had my FR-S for nearly 3 1/2 years now. The head oil seep from the gasket/sensor area in the front region doesn't have any affect on oil level or is real cause for a safety concern - I go 7+k miles between oil changes with 0 change in noticable level, extremely slow and small leak rate. It is most definitely the cause for the smell and gunk that has accumulated on the drivers side front and head of the motor and the aluminum under tray for over 30k miles...

Nah. No need to worry. Have it checked for your own peace of mind but slow oil leaks? Meh. Helicopters and Harleys - once they quit leaking, that's when you have to worry.

Just keep an eye on it like you've been doing. :thumbsup:

I say oil leak either cam plate, or near the exhaust manifold

Ahhh damnit.
On the plus side if I was wrong then I have a valid justification to support the purchase of a monitor that actually shows pictures.

It's all armchair quarterbacking. In the end, as long as we're helpful, that's what matters.

Ya, but I have to argue with engineers every day and that has instilled this habit of needing to be 'right' deep into my soul.

A good engineer cares more about getting it right than being right.

Yes i undertstand this would contribute i should have clarified....it was smelling like this befroe the exhaust as well
By the way i love my new exhaus they sound like sex

Oh, can't help then. Could be many things and I cant see, hear or smell the car.

To be clear, I meant this in the sense that you could use this point when engaging less <cough> mature engineers.

Not you :D