Bad smell from 4.0 engine (GTS4.0 / Spyder /GT4)

[Wollemi]

My GTS4.0 smells of hot oil - and its getting worse. I know all Porsche mid and rear engined cars can smell a bit hot after a drive, and my car is no exception. My previous 987.2 used to smell sometimes.

But my car has now got a lot worse, I can smell it whenever I drive with the top down. It's a lot more noticeable when coming to a stop and say a function or going slowly. The smell is definitely that of hot oil. My car has done 4800 miles, and it was run in properly.

Any ideas of what it might be? I've booked it in next week, but any ideas of what it might be, has anyone had this problem and cured it?

 

[SpyderDavid]

In my experience Boxsters have become progressively more 'smelly' over the last 20 years (I guess a result of more and more heat/power being fitted into a confined space?) but only at rest - my current car exudes a distinct hot rubber smell from the engine area. The difference is that you can smell something when driving the car, which I never do so it does sound like an investigation is a sound move to give peace of mind. Possibly something to do with the additional GPF - catalysts used to give off an eggy smell didn't they? - though that now seems to be a thing of the past.

 

[Motorhead]

Graham,

Modern engines are well buttoned-down with respect to leakage, and with efficient intake filtering and the dual effects of cat converters and now GPFs it’s difficult to see how you’d be able to smell anything ’oily’. However, maybe there’s a gas leak somewhere - the air-oil separator perhaps or the oil filler pipework? - which a thorough inspection by your dealer should locate.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

As earlier posted, my 987.2 smells 'hot rubber/bit of oil' when hot after a gentle or hard run (latter is rare) but only standing still, ie just parked it, got out, opened boot for camera type of timescale. Does not linger for long. maybe a minute.

The smell is very 'fan belt rubber' to my senses.

In this case I would suspect the oil filter. Years back when I started to use the excellent Zuffenhaus for services I was called to the car to be shown an oil saturated filter housing and area. The seal ring was missing from the last service!

With these cars, no substitute for having the car on a ramp and a good torch to start off the investigation.(and someone who knows where to first look)

Hope the findings are silly and cheap!

 

[carnaby35]

Hello Graham ‘mate’, I’m glad I’ve got a lovely 2.5 litre flat four turbocharged motor 718 and not one of those stinking 6 cylinder things.
Best regards??????

 

[waxman]

Hope you get it sorted , would be interesting to see result of inspection so please let us know . I had an extended teat drive in a demo 4L GTS a couple of months ago and did not notice anything like you mention.
also good opportunity for an oil change when it’s in workshop and now run in ?!

 

[Wollemi]

Thanks for replies so far.

The car had an oil change (at OPC) after running in and prior to first track day.

It has also used 0.75 litre of oil
in last 3000 miles, but that included 3 track days.

 

[Motorhead]

Graham,

A rather obvious question but was the smell evident before your oil change? If not then maybe there was an oil spill and it’s getting burned off, although it’s hard to see how the smell could be getting worse, or as mentioned above the filter housing is leaking.

Jeff

 

[911hillclimber]

When I was shown my leaking filter housing, the car had done about 5K miles since the service and another indie.
The oil creep was quite extensive, and having had a 'smell' as I've described above, I thought fixing the issue would resolve the hot engine smell directly after using the car.
It didn't, BUT it made it far less regular.
My 2p is on the filter, but like others, I look forward to seeing the OPC summary and fix.

 

[silverdreamracer]

....... you need to drive it quicker!! Happy new year to you both!!

 

[Wollemi]

....... you need to drive it quicker!! Happy new year to you both!!

You know I always try to do as you tell me. I shall apply myself to the task.

Happy New Year to you too.

 

[jharrison]

Hello Graham ‘mate’, I’m glad I’ve got a lovely 2.5 litre flat four turbocharged motor 718 and not one of those stinking 6 cylinder things.
Best regards??????

4 cylinder turbo you say? That is the smell, my friend, of envy

 

[jharrison]

is the smell enjoyed by those with a normally aspirated engine (I can not comment on the other type) not just the plastics/rubber/ancillary bits going through heat cycles - I have had a few water cooled 6 cylinder Porsches and they all emit a 'hot smell' after a drive

 

[Gazoak]

In my experience Boxsters have become progressively more 'smelly' over the last 20 years (I guess a result of more and more heat/power being fitted into a confined space?) but only at rest - my current car exudes a distinct hot rubber smell from the engine area. The difference is that you can smell something when driving the car, which I never do so it does sound like an investigation is a sound move to give peace of mind. Possibly something to do with the additional GPF - catalysts used to give off an eggy smell didn't they? - though that now seems to be a thing of the past.

My 981 also has the hot rubber smell from the engine area after a good drive.

 

[JohnCRS]

I think I would have a look under the car to see if there were any signs of oil around. As stated above, the filter is the most likely culprit and if consumption has gone up to that extent it is very unlikely to be burning the oil, so it must be coming out somewhere.