Engine smell

[Manbeast]

Over the past month I've noticed a mild type of burning smell coming from the engine bay on my VXR8 after any length of trip, it was down to about 1/4 of oil on the dip stick so I topped up to the correct level. It's the first thing I smell on exiting the car each time. Not entirely sure its a burning smell, but I'm associating it to extra heat being generated in the engine bay. All other coolant levels look correct.

Temperature gauges all appear normal, although when pushing the car slightly harder then normal at the weekend I did spot the oil temp hit 130 for a few mins, this normally doesn't move from 110-112 as I've been watching these quite closely. The fan appears to be working still as well.

I'm due a service next month if no one has any ideas, thanks.

[snowwolf]

Is it standard with engine cover still in place or is it supercharged ? The heater have a tendency to rub and you get a tiny hole appear which leaks a tiny amount and make the funny smell.

http://www.pistonheads.com/GASSING/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[ARAF]

I always associate the smell of cooking antifreeze with an engine running hot. Have you checked your water level, as a pinhole or weeping joint could spray coolant onto the headers or other hot parts?

[Manbeast]

It's a standard setup with engine cover, i'll go check, cheers :-)

[snowwolf]

I had the smell for months Araf, no drop in coolant reservoir or rad, as you can see in the photo of the hoses the hole was very small, how it stayed small for months I just don't know but it did and leaked just enough not to register on coolant level, it was dripping onto exhaust manifold.

ARAF said:

I always associate the smell of cooking antifreeze with an engine running hot. Have you checked your water level, as a pinhole or weeping joint could spray coolant onto the headers or other hot parts?

[Manbeast]

Just been and had a look, the heater pipes are still pretty hot to touch and I've been home since 18.30.

Letting the car tick over for 5 mins the pipes do seem to get extremely hot quickly and do smell, the protective sheath seems intact and from what I can see there are no holes. I did spot a small amount of something white building up at front of the pipes where there is a join, but can't see anything else suspicious.

[snowwolf]

Mine used to look like that at the joins, also check the very small hose that comes off top of rad cap and goes to a small pipe on righthandside of head, it can leak slightly there and just need to pop on a new jubilee clip

Manbeast said:

Just been and had a look, the heater pipes are still pretty hot to touch and I've been home since 18.30.

Letting the car tick over for 5 mins the pipes do seem to get extremely hot quickly and do smell, the protective sheath seems intact and from what I can see there are no holes. I did spot a small amount of something white building up at front of the pipes where there is a join, but can't see anything else suspicious.

[VinceM]

Burning coolant will stink, and the smell of burning ethylene glycol is a very distinct one, it doesn't take much to make the smell. Keep a close eye on coolant levels.