Hey, Why Does My Car Smell Like Burning Oil?

While inspecting the car on a lift, the mechanic noticed drips from the rear transmission seal, part of the transmission system. However, the output shaft seal's busing was fine. Still, both seals are related, and replacing them avoids environmental contamination.

As the related image shows, a lousy rear transmission seal allows transmission fluid to leak, causing burning oil smells and staining your garage floor.

Consider taking the car to a shop and having a mechanic lift it to check the seal's status. These kinds of seals can last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles, depending on their material, brand, and driving conditions.

Commonly, the transmission's operating temperature might cause the seal to become dry and crack; this is more common in older vehicles.

The cause of this car's burning smell is the transaxle output shaft seal. This part is typically at the front of the car, at the underside connecting the front wheels. The transaxle is dripping where one drive axle connects to the transaxle assembly, which is near the engine, creating an odor.

A car's transaxle output shaft commonly has seal problems over time due to wear and tear. Still, they typically last longer than 50,000 miles before developing a leak, depending on driving conditions. In this case, the oil leaks to the car's rear region, touching hot parts and burning with the heat.

You'll need a mechanic to look at the output shaft seals, where each drive axle connects to the transaxle; this is all in the vehicle's front area, between the front wheels. The technician removes the drive axles to inspect the sealing surfaces. Then, they'll check for no further damage to the overall system and replace the seals.

In this car's inspection, the leak cause is unknown; the driver states that oil is coming from the car's underside but didn't find the accurate origin. So, it'll need a more thorough examination.

This car was leaving noticeable oil leaks on the floor and producing a burning oil smell. After lifting the vehicle during the inspection, the mechanic noticed a spot where oil dripped.

If the engine is dripping oil, we recommend an ultraviolet oil dye test to locate the leak's origin. This test uses a specific kind of light that highlights areas where oil touched; it's like those blood detectors detectives use when investigating a scene.

Oily fluids can come from valve cover gaskets, valve cover bolts, timing cover gaskets, front or rear camshafts from the seals, oil pressure sensors, oil coolers, motor oil seals, exhaust pipes, etc. These parts have seals that can lose their grip; they are also prompt to corrode and allow oil seepage.

This type of problem can progress badly. The mechanic must ensure that all components have a perfect seal and no loose or moving parts.

A catalytic converter's hot surface burns dripping oil. As a result of the heat, you'll notice a burning oil smell. The dye test, which uses an ultraviolet light, helps to track the leak's source.

The car from the picture was producing a burning oil smell; there were no apparent leaks on the floor, so the driver didn't make any assumptions.

After raising the car on the lift, the mechanic saw oil going toward the converter. Then, looking up at the back of the engine, more was coming from the pressure sensor. So, the oil was coming from loose seals from engine components and was trailing under the car until it touched the hot catalytic converter. Consequently, the oil was burning and causing a specific smell.

In this case, the dripping has been happening regularly. A routine car inspection would've detected the burning oil and leaks earlier. The mechanic suggests replacing the seals from engine components and ensuring the pressure sensor works properly.

During this vehicle's inspection, the mechanic could see the engine's oil cooler hoses dripping. These hoses apparently had seal or corrosion damages, blowing fluids under the car and resulting in a burning smell.

In cases like this, you might see grease stains or drips around the car's radiator if you open the hood. These hoses run from the engine to the radiator, and they're essential for the cooling system.

The engine, transmission, and power steering oil coolers use cool air in front of the radiator and air conditioning condenser. These coolers and their connecting lines should undergo an inspection in this case.

The recommended course of action would be to replace the lines and attach new seals. The cooling system prevents the engine from overheating, and it's essential for vehicle longevity.