spect2k Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Whenever I drive my car hard, I begin to smell burning oil (it really stinks). I even give it a cool down period afterward and it still smells bad. At first, I chalked it up to just being a new car breaking in, but it now has 7K miles on it. I am running conventional oil and have changed it at 900 miles, 3K miles, 6K miles all at the dealership using conventional (I have been planning to switch to synthetic at 10K). I also checked the level each time and it is dead on - full every time I check it, the level doesn't seem to be changing. As a side note, I know how to drive a stick and this isn't transmission smell - it is oil. Can someone make a recommendation? It is like 50 degrees out, I can't imagine at 90 degrees when it is actually hot outside! Should I switch to synthetic? Is it normal? Should I take it in to the dealer? Perhaps a 5w-40 oil? Is it still breaking in? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Well if the odor is bothering you, buy a clothes pin and put it over your nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spect2k Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 And if your brakes don't work, don't fix them, buy a parachute right? Thanks for the recommendation! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiyanichenko Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 ^^ yea lol, i have the same problem sometimes and im running synthetic. start your car cold and let it idle for 15 minutes. after, rev it really hard and if it spits oil or black smoke is coming out it your turbo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBT Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Check your oil filter and the CV boots on your axles. If the filter is one of the older Subaru filters, i.e. 090 series, then they are known to leak. Shouldn't be any available in the stock system, so doubt this is the issure, but it may not be seated tight enough. I only mention the CV boots, because a small crack will allow grease to fly out and hit the exhaust, which would create the stink you're referring to in your OP. Put it up on a rack, or jack stands and crawl under and see where there's any oil seepage. Only way to know for sure. SBT - Pro amore Dei et patriam et populum - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiyanichenko Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 hmm, but your dipstick is on full. don't take it to the dealer they will just make you buy a bunch of parts that oil goes through. have you changed you oil filter every time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spect2k Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 I have taken it to the dealer each time and asked for an oil change which to them includes oil and the filter. I haven't physically checked. I will take a look when I get it on ramps checking what subietonic suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dong Homez Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 My car has the same burning oil smell when I'm heavy on the boost. I find that changing the AC to recirculating mode helps out a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiyanichenko Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 i never use ac. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yioryo Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I have the same problem on my 08 2.5Limited. Usually happens under hard acceleration. I'm @ 6.8k miles right now and have been using synthetic (replaced twice) since 900 miles as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spect2k Posted March 15, 2008 Author Share Posted March 15, 2008 Changing the mode to recirculate will only mask the problem from inside though. It is a good idea to help my nose, but I want to find out why it is doing that. Yioryo, that's too bad to hear that synthetic didn't help. I was hoping it would be that easy. Are you using 5W-30? Maybe a 5W-40 could help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lossol Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 The only time I smell oil is after the oil has been changed and it only last for a few 100 miles. Worse when I drive hard, because the oil is just buring off faster I believe. No small leaks around the filter? VBG1 gauges available at www.gtboostgauge.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgeracer Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 You car doesn't seem to be burning or consuming oil. why would you change to a heavier oil?? You said the level is always ok right? "Gimme mines Balboa...Gimme mines".....Clubber Lang - Mr. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehsnils Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 If the level always is OK I suggest that you also check the gearbox oil. Or the power steering. It isn't necessarily the engine oil that smells if you get it on your exhaust system. But it won't take much either to create a smell. I would suggest that you may want to check the exhaust system to see if you have any stains related to oil on it. And check that the oil pan is in place correctly. Someone may have forgotten to tighten the screws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spect2k Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 Great, I will have to check all of these things. I think it has been happening too frequently to just be some oil that may have been spilled on the engine when they will filling it. Ridgeracer - good point, it does not seem to be burning oil and the level is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSpeed Posted April 1, 2008 Share Posted April 1, 2008 Datalog your car... oil smell can easily be mistaken for HOT smell... I had a very hot smell and found my car was drastically pulling timing.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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