It's hard to describe exactly. At times I think it smells like burned oil. At other times, a bit like burned paint. I attributed it to the fact that the car is new but now I'm beginning to wonder. I've got about 900 miles on the car and it's almost two weeks old and I still smell "that smell" when I stop at a light with the sunroof open or when I get out of the car after driving somewhere. Is it normal burn-in or should I start to be concerned. The oil level is fine and there are no obvious oil-leaks, no spots on the drive etc. I guess it could easily be burn-in smell but the last two new cars I owned had no such smell.

If it's normal, when (approx) is it normal for the smell to go away? Thanks. It's great to be able to learn from the experiences of others.....

 

It's normal. It's oil. Mine hasn't completely gone away yet (I'm at 3600 miles), but it has subsided.

 

Thanks. I was obviously hoping to hear that it's normal. Even better to hear that it gets better. It's a rather foul smell. It's probably goofey but when I show the car to people I like them to experience that "new car" smell. More often than not, the new-car delight is overwhelmed by the hot-lawn-mower smell of burned oil. Like I said, glad to hear that it gets better.

 

My still has that smell once in a while. I think you have it more if you shut it offf before it is really warmed up.

 

Must be a rotary thing. I had it with my RX-7 too, and it never went away.

 

I like that smell.
Then again, I sniff magic markers.:D

 

I took mine in for a service writeup on this burning smell at just under 2k miles -- the service manager recognized the smell immediately as "Kosmolene" (his spelling on the service ticket) a rust inhibitor/protectant applied to the exhaust parts for overseas shipping. He said it *will* go away, sooner or later.

Well, at nearly 2k miles, I had my doubts. Turns out that by the time I'd run through the next tank of gas, the burning smell was gone, never to return (now over 4300 miles).

There are several other threads mentioning a burning smell, by the way. Hope that helps. -jd.

 

I had/have that smell as well... normally I got it when starting her up and backing her out of the garage.. It has definitely been subsiding as I have been driving the car more.

 

Yes, it's the "shipping wax" not properly cleaned off the car at prep. They should remove all of it. Check under the hood for a waxy substance on any metal parts. If not removed early it will harden and will be very difficult to get off.

 

it could also be the undercoating that they spray on the car for protection during transport that is burning off. i heard that it takes anywhere from 100 to 1500 miles to get rid of that smell

 

I have it on mine but it is very faint. I hope it goes away soon I am at 2,200 miles.

 

I've got the smell on my car too. Seems to be going away.

Thats what I love about this forum.....you have a problem, you can research it, and chances are someone has allready had it/fixed it, and can tell you what to do. Or whats wrong with it.

Thanks Jason for the forums!

Sorry for being so off topic. CJ

 

Hello,
I am at 900 miles with the same smell.
I hope it goes away...love the car

Doug

 

i have a smell coming through my vents (dont get it on defrost or ac) - its definitely the smell of burning oil, and its pretty strong sometimes.

im at about 2100 miles now.

another issue: when the car has been running a bit, the vent blows excessively warm air on its coldest setting - i have to open a window or turn on ac - in the winter! ( im in LA, its not that cold at this time of year, but cooler than this problem should be). this warm air is like the problem i had in my old fokked up del sol.

 

Yeah sometimes i get that smell too, say when i drop the clutch at 5k rpms or so accidentally . The clutch burning smell stays around for a while, i was pretty surprised the 1st time i did it. I only notice a kinda similar smell when warming up the engine when it is very cold, but it is gone quickly. My car is around 1.2k mi

 

im getting it with normal driving in the city - (los angeles) - maybe i should have it checked with a dealer/shop..

 

Mine too is burned......800 kilos

 

Well one month and ten days after my first post and with 3200 miles on the 8, the smell is long gone. So, as they said when I first asked the question, it does get better.

 

2.2k miles on my car and its been completely gone for sometime. CJ