Hey Lads - Lasses,

So I have had a oil burning smell inside the cabin for quite some time. It comes and goes.
Have looked everywhere to find out where the smell may be coming from.
Have looked intensely around the cam covers as those would drip on to the manifold but they are dry. The heat shield on either side shows little to no drips whatsoever.
I thought I had found it when I discovered a cracked corrugated PCV line which I have since fixed but the smell continues.
Has anyone else had this mysterious and difficult to find smell happen to them on the 2003 - 2006 cars?
Obviously, it has to be one of two things - either it is something dripping onto a very hot surface and burning off or else it is a leak somewhere that is supposed to contain a crankcase vapor.
So far, I have had no luck - just looking for other places to go looking

Cheers
Bernie

I think that may just be that authentic Jaguar smell and not a burning oil smell.

How often do you change your undies?

The only burning smell I had on my XK8's was:

1. minor oil leagage from the cam covers onto the manifolds but there was always residue from the burned oil.
2. from occasional coolant drips which immediately vapourised on hitting the hot manifold leaving no trace.

Are you absolutely certain it's the smell of oil and not coolant?

Graham

+1 ^^^, the norma connectors can drip on the cats and cause a burning coolant smell. They will leave an orangish residue. I had this problem as well as a bunch of other folks.

I'd say add a good inspection of the transmission to your list. That connector sleeve (back side sort of above the output shaft) can leak and drip on the hot exhaust pipes. The cooling lines to the radiator occasionally leak too (not common AFAIK).

Also, check the oil cooler circuit, starting below the crank pulley where those rubber lines connect to the block. As you know, oil can and does travel.

Last, check the transmission bell housing plug for the presence of oil or trans fluid. This is a plastic plug, not rubber, and does not really seal fluids.

Coolant - hmmm you may be on to something there

Seems as though coolant may very well be the culprit

Great things to check for sure.
I do believe that coolant may be a potential here as I have been suffering some leakage in a couple of areas.
Will check that stuff out first and then circle back to your other suggestions - much appreciated

As you well know, the oil cooler is the lowest and most forward part of an XK8 (sorta) and prone to touching hard things. My 03 had a very small ooze that would periodically cause the burning oil smell. JB Weld worked until I sucked it up and bought a new cooler.

Mike