oil smell

[ylwgto]

So I am getting a faint smell of oil (hot smell, not quite burnt) in my cabin. the car does not burn through oil or leak oil visibly, very clean underneath. I just did a full synthetic oil/filter change 3K ago. The PCV system seems to be working well (lots of suction at oil filler cap when off). Is there anywhere else I should be looking for small leaks? Any other fluid leak that could be smelling like this?

'09 XC90 3.2 with 123K

[MoVolvos]

So I am getting a faint smell of oil (hot smell, not quite burnt) in my cabin. the car does not burn through oil or leak oil visibly, very clean underneath. I just did a full synthetic oil/filter change 3K ago. The PCV system seems to be working well (lots of suction at oil filler cap when off). Is there anywhere else I should be looking for small leaks? Any other fluid leak that could be smelling like this?

'09 XC90 3.2 with 123K

When I purchased the 03 S80 T6 the interior reeked of burned oil. It was quite a few months afterwards when my son started to drove off that I saw a trial of fluid. Turned out to be coming from the transmission hose at the radiator. The two seals were sheared flat and stretched so leaking for sometime and finally came loose.

I purchased it from a Charity. The previous owner and mechanic probably didn't catch that so donated it to the Charity. Though they have a lot of mechanics from reputable shops who donate their time at the Charity no one caught it either.

Since replaced the burning smell is no longer but the oil smell did linger for about a year.

*

[SuperHerman]

Your after shave?

If not that, did it smell before your oil change? How long after the change did the smell become apparent?

You really have to do some deep looking. Not too many places for oil to leak from, seals mainly. Check the oil drain plug and filter. Look for anything that could be dripping onto the exhaust as by your description it is heat related.

I have had a dozen cars that smell of burning oil, show no signs of usage, after oil changes using synthetic oil. Usually it goes away after a few months. My theory is the oil rings are adjusting to the new clean fresh oil. Only explanation as none of the cars had oil leaks and none of the cars burned excessive oil over the standard oil change interval.

[ylwgto]

Yes, old spice "petroleum heat". LOL

Yeah, it is mystifying for sure. I did not have the car long enough before doing the oil change to notice the smell pre-synthetic swap.

There are zero leaks from the filter housing and pan drain plug. The seal at the breather cap is good and no seepage. I cannot see anything leaking anywhere. I specifically looked around the manifolds and cannot see anything. My 2.3T made the same smell (albeit much stronger), but it had a tired turbo and bad PCV, so it made sense.

I'm doing an ATF drain/fill in the next few days, so will closely examine the old fluid.

Maybe , like you said, it is the engine seals and rings getting used to full synthetic after 120K...