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Oil smell while driving; is it me or the guy in front?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by hessank, Jun 7, 2015.

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  1. hessank

    hessank Formula 3
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    Fred
    #1 hessank, Jun 7, 2015
    I've had 4 P-Cars (front-engined) and always worry when I smell burning rubber or oil burning WHILE driving. A few times I've even taken an early exit and check that things were ok under the hood. Only 2 times in 30 years I found my car was the cause (steering fluid leak from HP hose dripping on exhaust and oil spill from a recent oil change burning off the exhaust).

    So yesterday I'm on the hwy and started smelling oil burning. I go schxt, look around at the cars around me and not one of them pouring blue smoke from an exhaust. I pull over safely and after a quick inspection continued. Paranoia? Hell yes.

    So my question is, this being a rear-engined car can it ever be me? With the airflow and all would you smell burning oil if there was burning oil from the back?
     
  2. turbo-joe

    turbo-joe F1 Veteran

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    #2 turbo-joe, Jun 7, 2015
    sure you may smell burning or burned oil, it does not matter if front, middle or rear engine
     
  3. jacques

    jacques Formula Junior

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    #3 jacques, Jun 7, 2015
    Try this. Try following different cars around. I the odor persists, it's probably not them.
     
  4. hessank

    hessank Formula 3
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    #4 hessank, Jun 8, 2015
    Maybe it was a stupid question. I am quite sure you have all smelled burning /burnt oil while driving before. My question was, this being a rear-engined car, is it ALWAYS the other car and not mine (being rear-engined).
     
  5. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 dm_n_stuff, Jun 8, 2015
    I think it's maybe a LITTLE less likely that you'd smell it in a mid/rear engined car, BUT, I do know that I've smelled it a few times in Porsches and in Ferraris and it's ALWAYS been my car that had the issue.

    Leaky oil lines in a couple different 911's and a bad job of filling the oil on my Dino all resulted in the issues.

    Always best to err on the side of safety. If your car is leaky or smoking, you'll know right away when you stop, and can then motor safely on your way if it's not the cause.

    D
     
  6. bigsquat

    bigsquat Formula Junior
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    #6 bigsquat, Jun 8, 2015
    I think it's just as likely that you would smell any leak you had if the fluid was burning off. This is how I knew I had a leak that turned out to be my TO bearing.
     
  7. hessank

    hessank Formula 3
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    #7 hessank, Jun 8, 2015
    Thanks Dave & Troy for your replies.
     
  8. pietro

    pietro Karting

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    #8 pietro, Jun 8, 2015
    Check your cam bearings. Might be a small leak.
     
  9. PV Dirk

    PV Dirk F1 Veteran

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    #9 PV Dirk, Jun 10, 2015
    I've smelled oil in my mid engine car. Especially when driving slow or immediately after pulling in garage.
     
  10. Prugna

    Prugna Formula 3
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    #10 Prugna, Jun 20, 2015
    Its ALWAYS you. Just like farts.
     

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