Just had this car for a couple weeks so I'm hyper sensitive learning it's personality. I got new tires and have new sparks installed. I've been driving a prius the past 4 years so it's been a while since I drove my 93 240sx.

 

Burning rubber?

I can pretty much rule out your rear tires!


hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah!

 

Ooops - was that my Outside voice?

 

do you notice the smell every time you exhale?
Maybe a little more info, next time....?
example: Driving with the e-break on? Did you check underneath to see if anything is burning/ melted? How long have you noticed the smell? Changes in driving habits? etc...

 

Most times I notice it when I exit the car after driving.
I do not drive with the e-brake
I noticed the smell for a week or so.
Driving habits have not been set since I just got the car.

My first guess is that the new tires and the smell of heat / exhaust is still new to me. Still, I will keep a nostril out for it.

 

I just got mine last month, and I've noticed the same thing. I also noticed it right after getting snow tires. I haven't had a chance to look into it yet. I can't hear any rubbing or anything like that, and I don't always smell it when I get out. I'm not much help I know

 

same story for me!! im pretty sure it comes from the engine bay. Try pointing the air vent to your face while driving and i can usually smell it. Exhaust leak?
Also today i hit 5000 rpm and shut the car off in my garage (door open) and got out of my car and i got that smelled that too. Thats why i think it could be an exhaust leak or the rotors just ******* around with us haha

 

I also just got my car and I noticed a burning oil smell after test driving it. The dealer had changed the oil and when he removed the filter, oil spilled all over the engine bay. They put the car up on a lift to make sure it wasn't leaking oil (also gave me a chance to get a really good look at the underbody of the car). The tech cleaned it off and since then no smell. Could this be the case for you guys?

 

I smelled it last night after getting out coming home from work. I went right up to the exhaust, no smell there. It's coming directly from the engine bay. It's waaaaay too cold here to look into it right this minute but i'll have a look this weekend. Not that I'll know what i'm looking at but maybe there will be something obvious.

 

yea the car im about to buy tomorrow has that burning type smell when i drive it for a test drive and they also spilled oil so im guessing thats wat the problem is they just spilled it a lil and its heating up and smelling like burning rubber etc

 

If you're buying form a dealer, have them lift the car up for you so you can see where the oil is. Have them clean it up for you, then drive the car and take a look at it again.

 

yea cuz its on top right near where the cap is, is it possible it fell on the cat or headers and its making that smell cuz the oil is heating up on it?

 

If it is oil you are smelling, then yes it's because it is touching something that gets really hot. Probably not the cat though, since that is farther down. Just make sure the oil was spilled, and it's not leaking.

 

yea we checked that u can see its right behind the cap just sitting there the guys also said that it was spilled cuz they are idiots at the current dealer its at he called them a bunch of morons himself so from what i can see it seems oil to be the problem and i hope thats what it is the car only has 14k miles

 

might be burning your clutch out a lil bit

 

Ok since we're on this subject; I'm still a rookie and just started doing my own oil changes when I got this car. How the hell do you change the oil filter without getting oil EVERYWHERE? I tried punching a hole in the top of it with a screwdriver but it didn't help. What's the secret trick? Feel free to call me a retard

 

My guess is this..

 

in an automatic 8 is what my situation is

 

I have the the same smell when I park my 8 sometimes.... I have tried to track it down to no avail... ... mine seems to be coming from the back of the car.... I notice it most when I walk straight to the trunk.... not coming from the exhaust though....

 

Put paper towels under it.

Unscrew until your near the end. Re-grip, then spin off and tilt up fast.

That's it.