Why does my car smell like burning oil?
Most often, oil is leaking onto a hot exhaust part and burning off. The usual source is a leaking valve cover gasket above the exhaust manifold, an oil filter or drain plug that's loose, or oil spilled during a recent oil change. A small spill burns off in a day or two. A smell that keeps coming back means an active leak that should be fixed, since it can damage other parts and is a fire risk.
Common sources
- Valve cover gasket: the most common; it sits right above the exhaust manifold on many engines
- Oil filter or drain plug: loose or with a damaged seal, often after an oil change
- Oil filler cap: missing or not tightened
- Oil cooler or filter housing seals
- Front or rear main seals: usually drip lower down, on the exhaust pipe or ground
Other smells and what they mean
| Smell | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| Burning oil | Oil on the exhaust |
| Sweet, syrupy | Coolant leak (details) |
| Acrid, chemical, after hills | Hot brakes, or a clutch slipping |
| Burning rubber | A belt slipping, or a hose touching something hot |
| Rotten eggs | Catalytic converter or fuel mixture problem |
| Raw gasoline | Fuel leak; stop and get it checked |
What we do
We find where the oil is coming from and what it's landing on, then send you photos. One customer had oil from a leaking valve cover gasket coating the alternator below it; replacing the gasket and the damaged alternator fixed both problems.
From drivers who came to us
Upon inspection of my car they told me they disagreed with Hyundai and I didn't need all of the extra work done that Hyundai proposed. They changed only the necessary parts (valve cover gasket and alternator and cleaned up the oil spray mess).
I had oil leaks issue with my car's engine, they changed all seal related to this issue.
Excerpts from verified customer reviews on Yelp.
More questions
I just had an oil change and now smell burning oil. Is that normal?
A little spilled oil on the exhaust can smell for a day or so. If it lasts longer, the filter, drain plug or fill cap may be loose. Have it checked.
Is a burning oil smell dangerous?
Oil on hot exhaust parts can catch fire in rare cases. If you see smoke from under the hood, pull over, turn off the engine and don't open the hood if you see flames.
Could it be something other than oil?
A sweet smell is coolant. A sharp, acrid smell can be an overheating brake or a slipping clutch. A rotten-egg smell can be the catalytic converter.