I wonder if anyone else has noticed this about his or her own Jag.

This is my fourth Jaguar over the past 35 years and they all seem to exhibit the same unique quality. Whenever I return my XKR to its garage after a spirited drive, the car gives off a most wonderful aroma of overheated exhaust manifolds, combined with the smell of grease, oil, leather, and hot brake rotors.

No other car I’ve owned has done this. My present Volvo, for instance, is scent-neutral. It doesn’t emit any smells at all. The same with my wife’s Scion. Most of my other cars have been the same way, or, if they do give off any odor, it’s unpleasant or undesirable, such as that of gasoline or antifreeze. Only my Jaguars have such a pleasant scent.

Can anyone account for this?

Vince

 

Poorly sealing valve covers account for some of it...LOL Still all in all a great smell, I agree.

 

I get a bit of a different smell driving back from the monthly burrito night special at Salsarita's....

 

I have to hit the recirc button at stoplights to cut down on the scent of burned oil on the exhaust manifold.

 

It is the way your kitty re- marks it's territory... Rich

 

I've owned several Jags also but when I got the XK8 after driving it the smell reminded me of the smell of the 2 FIAT/Bertone X1/9's I owned. Not in a bad way.


Dave

 

I started my Jaguar love affair when I purchased a 1953 MKVII. Although in bad condition, there was still an [only] Jaguar aroma in the car. I don't know how to describe the smell, but it was a leather, real {wood) back then, maybe carpets, some wiring, and maybe some burnt oil etc., but a smell no other car had. The first thought on entry was luxury. Other cars seemed to lack some of, if not all that smell until I purchased my 05 XJ8L. Upon entry the first time, there was that smell. Not quite as strong as I remember, but there non the less. My 05 XK8 also had that smell some what, even though it has none of the wood trim, it's CF, but still not up to par as my memory restored.

I believe that a lot of the smell disappeared when Jaguar quit using real wood and went to the laminated stuff. I guess the expert wood craftsmen just couldn't keep up with the demand, but a real draw back when it comes to the Jaguar. Wood veneer on aluminum sheets just don't cut it in my opinion. Now even that is giving way to other less special materials. More or less getting to be just like all the other makes.---Sad.

 

This was also a bumper sticker on my old 66' Karmann Ghia. "My VW doesn't leak oil, it's marking it's spot."

 

my 97 and 03 smell the same, assuming from the leather. Great smell.

 

So do I! Do you know of a fix for this? I've had the valve cover gaskets replaced, but
that doesn't seem to have helped. This is one thing I would really like to fix -- that
burnt oil smell coming into the interior is really annoying! Thanks!!

Bob

 

The valve covers are made of plastic. They should be inspected for cracks and deterioration. If they had been previously over tightened, they can also be deformed. Also the gaskets must be tightened to the correct torque in the correct sequence or they may not seal properly.

 

My interior smells just like a Jag should, on both cars. I don't get much smell from the exterior, only cracks and pops of the brake rotors and exhaust. I love these cars......Mike

 

I hear you, but that acrid burnt-oil smell just covers up all the "good aromas."

Bob

 

I enjoy the pinging sound of the exhausts after a drive when the cars shut down and is cooling... Car letting me know it's had fun.

 

Good description! I like that!

 

Ahhh, the smell of older cars. The '63 MG Midget I owned for a while had a unique smell. No leather or wood in a Midget but the smell of non-cat exhaust mixed with old grease and a little petrol is long gone from modern cars.
I do notice a strong exhaust smell when backing the XK8 out of the garage in nicer weather.

 

My 05 XKR vert has the normal leather smells, but I have to agree with the very unique exhaust smell just as you start her up and back her out of the garage. I have never come across any other car that has that same exhaust smell on first start-up of the day in the garage.

 

Same here with the aromas in my old 1990 Sovereign. Also, my beagle regularly got car sick in my truck or Miata, but in the Jag she sat in back and watched out the window!

 

Hello Wabisabi,
Did you ever get the smell sorted out?
I have the same issue.
The strong burnt smell comes from underneath the center console.

 

Yes, it was the valve covers leaking just a tiny bit, just enough to stink up the car!
After 3 changes, it has been oder-free since last June. The smell seemed to be coming
thought the vent system, though -- not from under the center console. But from what
I've read, it's usually the valve covers. Check really carefully to see if there is a small
leak. Good luck!