When I turn the heater on I sometimes have a odor that comes into the car that smells like burnt oil. It will last only a short time then not smell at all. Has anyone had that happen with there car?

 

lol I do.....but it smells more like gas to me...
What the hell is this? I have 4000km left on my fact warranty...and I have a huge list of issues I am taking it in for lol

 

Since you didnt give info on yr or type engine ill shoot some easy stuff thats common.
V6, oil leaking from lower imt oring onto exhaust and being drawn in from the base of the windshield were the ac/heater draws air in from outside. Would only do it when recirc feature is off
v8 cam covers leaking oil onto exhaust and doing the same as v6 with regards to ac/heat
if you have a early model stype v8 00-01 replaced the upper chain tensioners while youre in there since removing the cam covers is alot of the labor. If those break its never a cheap or good repair to have to do. This is one of those ounce of prevention things. If the tensioners have been replaced with the metal bodied ones then your fine, if plastic definitly replace

 

Sorry for the lack of info, It is a 2003 with the V-6 in it.

 

On our '05 when the lower IMT O-ring failed, you could see oil on the rear valve cover stud and burnt oil on the exhaust manifold heat shield. To check for possible leakage, open hood, passenger side (US) use paper towels or clean rag wipe backside of intake manifold, drive then wipe backside of intake manifold again if the is fresh oil B I N G O!

 

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OK guys- Please help. About a year ago I had valve cover gaskets replaced (not cheaply) on my 00 -S Type 4L because of burnt oil smell & white smoke from hood. Now, with 135K miles I'm noticing the smell & occasional light streams of white smoke stream have returned from driver side hood at firewall when engine idles or is turned off. Was I asking too much for the gasket replace to remedy the problem? I hope I don't have to but where should I get reasonably priced gaskets that last longer? Or, even better, maybe there's a less expensive issue afoot. What is & how do I check the lower IMT O ring? Please impart your knowledge. Thanks.

 

Does the 4.0 have IMTs?

 

Nope, no IMT's on 4.0 or 4.2's.


Could it be that the valve cover (cam cover) bolts loosened up? Look around on your exhaust manifold for signs of burnt oil. At running temperature, if its nice outside pop the hood and have a good look and sniff around.

 

It is nearly always a valve cover gasket leaking. Right age and the occasional whiff of oil is likely just that.


Replace the O rings on the IMT valves and do the coils/plugs while you're in there, along with the crankcase breather elbow.

 

His car doesn't have IMTs and doesn't have the elbow.

 

My car ('03 3.0 V6), has been doing the same thing recently. It is exactly what Brutal described in his reply. IMT o rings.