#1: Burning smell.. Author: brimbo, Location: South ShieldsPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:28 am ---- Since yesterday I've noticed a burning smell coming from under the bonnet while I drive, doesn't smell like burning rubber, more along the lines of burning oil, which is the closest I can point too, all the levels seem fine which i've checked. when I have a look under I can't see anything that looks melted, or any signs of smoke or anything I also noticed that the engine temp shoots from cold to 80degrees in about 4 minutes, and thats not happened before! This is coming from an easy foot, even in the mornings on the way to work I can smell it, anybody have any idea's?
#2: Re: Burning smell.. Author: Ste, Location: Hull -or- The World Of Info CodePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:30 am ---- Take the handbrake off, easy mistake in the morning when tired..
On a more serious note: Any recent changes to the car? New mods or even a service possibly??
#3: Re: Burning smell.. Author: brimbo, Location: South ShieldsPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:36 am ---- Nothing at all, the last services was in feb, I thought it could have been due to me ragging it about on the rare occasion, but its got me completely baffled!
#4: Re: Burning smell.. Author: Ste, Location: Hull -or- The World Of Info CodePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:40 am ---- Is the fan definatly kicking in when it gets too hot?
Have you checked your coolent levels to make sure you have enough coolent in the expansion tank?
When did you last change the pollen filter (They sometimes dont do it on a service tbh) - as daft as it sounds these things can STINK after a period of time lol took me a few weeks to work out what the smell was in my car, ended up been this.
I know you said it smells like burning oil, but smells can be deceiving, more so when there under the hood so to speak.
#5: Re: Burning smell.. Author: brimbo, Location: South ShieldsPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:44 am ---- I've checked all levels and they seem fine, the expansion tank steams a bit after a short drive but i'm not sure if thats relevant or not!
If the pollen filter wasn't changed on the last service then probably not for a few years, the smell does come in through the vents when I have them turned on.
#6: Re: Burning smell.. Author: gixxerkev, Location: wiltshirePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:57 am ---- If I've had my A/C on for a while then turn it off there's a funny smell, like damp socks, comes through the vents. I think my pollen filter needs changing. That could be your problem !
#7: Re: Burning smell.. Author: Ste, Location: Hull -or- The World Of Info CodePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 10:59 am ----
gixxerkev wrote:
If I've had my A/C on for a while then turn it off there's a funny smell, like damp socks, comes through the vents. I think my pollen filter needs changing. That could be your problem !
Yours is defo the pollen filter lol
#8: Re: Burning smell.. Author: coopskin, Location: Hull, East YorkshirePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:43 am ----
Ste206 wrote:
gixxerkev wrote:
If I've had my A/C on for a while then turn it off there's a funny smell, like damp socks, comes through the vents. I think my pollen filter needs changing. That could be your problem !
Yours is defo the pollen filter lol
or maybe your air-con is close to empty and needs regassing. ;-)
#9: Re: Burning smell.. Author: ptrehearn152, Location: norwichPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:57 am ---- Have you had a look underneath, quite often if you have a minor oil leak from say, the sump gasket it can drip onto the exhaust, which can smell pretty foul, also have a look at your breather pipes, make sure they are clear.
#10: Re: Burning smell.. Author: Ste, Location: Hull -or- The World Of Info CodePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:09 pm ----
coopskin wrote:
Ste206 wrote:
gixxerkev wrote:
If I've had my A/C on for a while then turn it off there's a funny smell, like damp socks, comes through the vents. I think my pollen filter needs changing. That could be your problem !
Yours is defo the pollen filter lol
or maybe your air-con is close to empty and needs regassing. ;-)
Mine needs this, cba going and getting it done though lol!
#11: Re: Burning smell.. Author: brimbo, Location: South ShieldsPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 12:14 pm ---- Checked the pollen filter, its dirty but not extremely, I'll jack it up tomorrow evening and have a look, hopefully this problem will be cheaply resolved !
#13: Re: Burning smell.. Author: stevedude, Location: aldershotPosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 1:03 pm ---- [quote="brimbo"] the expansion tank steams a bit after a short drive but i'm not sure if thats relevant or not!
might be the coolant aint going around because a block, and the smell could be the hoses heating up to much
or might not be lol
either way it shouldnt steam after a short drive, flush the system and change thermostat
#14: Re: Burning smell.. Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 4:14 pm ---- Have you noticed any contamination in the oil or water? Take the dipstick out and smell the oil on the end and see if it smells of petrol.
It is possible for the water to start steaming after a short drive, (although we don't know hoew short you mean) due to it being under pressure in the system.
Is the smell there if you leave the vehicle stationary and allow it to get up to temperature?
One way to spot if the engine is smoking is to wait until dark, run the engine up to temperature (wait for the fan to kick in). Open the bonnet and using a powerful torch or laser pointer shine it into the engine bay. You will see the smoke in the light and you should be able to trace it to the source. This will help identify if you have a minor oil leak which sometimes isn't noticeable to the human eye and requires tracing spray to locate.
#15: Re: Burning smell.. Author: brimbo, Location: South ShieldsPosted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 6:12 am ---- Looked today and on my catalystic converter, the bottom is smeared in oil, and to the left of it is dripping, the smell is definately originating from there, looks like it might need replacing, but any idea how oil got there in the first place? I thought a cracked sump but other than that, no idea!
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I also noticed that the engine temp shoots from cold to 80degrees in about 4 minutes, and thats not happened before! This is coming from an easy foot, even in the mornings on the way to work I can smell it, anybody have any idea's? 
lol
