Strong burnt oil smell

germ · 12-09-2022, 11:34 PM

This started a few months ago. The smell is very strong outside the car near the hood after a short drive, and sometimes I can smell it inside at traffic lights. No smoke coming out of the engine. What are the most likely causes? What should I look for under the hood?

tracer bullet · 12-10-2022, 08:39 AM

Oil is leaking from somewhere, quite possibly the valve cover, onto the exhaust manifold.

Lester · 12-10-2022, 12:53 PM

Also, the oil filter housing gasket.

WrathOTM · 12-10-2022, 05:42 PM

tossing it out there but if your oil pan gasket called it quits, the air rushing under the car can be pulling the leaking oil onto the exhaust. Probably more noticeable on the passenger side.

m_thompson · 12-28-2022, 10:10 AM

My wife's 328iX has the same problem. It already has new oil pan, valve cover, and OFH gaskets. There are no signs of an oil leak, an no signs of oil consumption. We were wondering about the PCV heater that us under recall.

12-09-2022, 11:34 PM	#1
germ Second Lieutenant 59 Rep 232 Posts Drives: 2008 135i convertible Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Strong burnt oil smell This started a few months ago. The smell is very strong outside the car near the hood after a short drive, and sometimes I can smell it inside at traffic lights. No smoke coming out of the engine. What are the most likely causes? What should I look for under the hood?
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12-10-2022, 08:39 AM	#2
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2473 Rep 3,598 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	Oil is leaking from somewhere, quite possibly the valve cover, onto the exhaust manifold.
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12-10-2022, 12:53 PM	#3
Lester Brigadier General 295 Rep 3,350 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	Also, the oil filter housing gasket.
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12-10-2022, 05:42 PM	#4
WrathOTM Lieutenant 552 Rep 520 Posts Drives: BMW 128i Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Rio Rancho, NM iTrader: (0)	tossing it out there but if your oil pan gasket called it quits, the air rushing under the car can be pulling the leaking oil onto the exhaust. Probably more noticeable on the passenger side. __________________ Mods to date: The list grows...
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12-28-2022, 10:10 AM	#5
m_thompson Major 133 Rep 1,416 Posts Drives: M-Sport 128i, 328xi, 3.0CS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New England, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 128i [0.00] 1972 3.0CS [10.00]	My wife's 328iX has the same problem. It already has new oil pan, valve cover, and OFH gaskets. There are no signs of an oil leak, an no signs of oil consumption. We were wondering about the PCV heater that us under recall. __________________ '09 128i - Black Sapphire Metallic\Coral Red\Glacier Silver\N51 DISA\6MT\Navigation\Premium\M-Sport\Heated seats\Xenon\Headlights\iPod\Smartphone\Euro Delivery
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