I just bought a Select Edition ’06 XKR with 16,000 miles on it. The car is in perfect shape and runs great. However, when I accelerate hard (foot to the floor), there is a smell that comes into the cabin. It’s a burning oil or rubber (no, it’s not the tires!) type smell. It doesn’t occur during normal driving, only under hard acceleration.

The service manager at the dealer tells me that the smell is the catalytic converter burning off sulfur and that this is normal. His explanation makes sense but I am still skeptical. I never experienced any smell with my XK8 when I drove it hard. Anyone else have this experience or have any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jon

 

A cat that's getting older will smell like a rotten egg.

Hard acceleration producing a rubber or burning smell might lead me to believe that you may have an exhaust leak.

 

After dark one night, drive it good and hard. Pull over somewhere and see if the cat is glowing. If it is, it's plugged up. Change it.

Don't drive it hard tonight. Too many little ghouls and gobblins running around.

 

I just responded to your same thread in the 1997 and newer XK8 XKR Forum. Didn't know it was here as well. Good luck and keep us posted.

dave