Whats that smell

The Hunter · #1 12-12-2003, 01:44 AM

Everytime I start my SVX I get a burt rubber smell comming out of the vents, you can also smell it outside after a moderate trip. Ive checked everywhere but cant find a damn thing any Ideas?

thumper_svx · #2 12-21-2003, 04:15 PM

Long time, no reply. Ah well... here goes;

I've had a similar problem with my SVX but only when the car was warm. The smell was only LIKE burned rubber... sort of foul. Anyway, the smell reached its peak recently and was swiftly followed by the failure of the crankcase and both cam seals, leaving about a gallon of oil in the middle of I-270 in St. Louis. The smell was the oil having been "processed" through the timing belt (it had been leaking for some time apparently) then coming out the bottom of the car and splashing on the exhaust headers. From here it burned off, therefore burning smell.

Since the seals have been fixed, the smell's gradually subsiding as it (a) burns off and (b) gets washed off. I would take a power washer to the underside of the car and wash it off by hand, but I figure it protects the belly of the car during "salt season" here in the Midwest.

What I'm saying is; check the front of the engine for oil, make sure you haven't got a VERY slight oil leak like I had.