Brief Oil smell and smoke

Kean · 01-26-2004, 03:43 PM

I didn't know if this was the appropriate place to post this since I'm not certain it has anything to do with the turbo. I have no modifications to my car except for 3 gauges (boost, oil pressure, volts) and I had the resonator removed for a week (curious to see what it sounded like and if the mod was worth it).

Anyhow, last Saturday morning I was driving to the gas station. At a stop light I suddenly noticed "oily" smoke coming out of my hood scoop and little from the passenger fender-well. This subsided quite rapidly and was totally gone by the time I pulled over to check the engine compartment for leaks. My boost and oil pressure are both normal. Also, I haven't noticed any difference in sound from my engine, turbo, etc. I checked everywhere I could and I can't see any oil residue/leaks (no drips on my driveway after a couple of days either). The problem hasn't occurred since that day and my car is working great. Do you folks have any ideas at all? Is it possible that the smoke was emitting from the intake and into the fender (noting that I had the resonator removed)? I checked all around the turbo to see if I could locate a leaky connection but found nothing. Any ideas/tips you folks have would be a great help.

fyi: (not sure it matters) It was in the morning and about 65 degrees out at the time. The car was still a little cold (water temp was at operating temp but oil wasn't). I had to get on it to pass about 15 bicyclists who were taking up one of the lanes. I made a right and then drove for about 1/2 a mile before I came to the light where my incident occurred (I stopped somewhat quickly since I missed the light and then the smoke started).

Thanks,
Kean

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wrxracer3 · 01-26-2004, 06:44 PM

check where the down pipe meets the turbo. I had oil leaking out on the bottom side of the down pipe. It wouldnt drip it would just have a little oil and make a oil burn smell.

Kean · 01-26-2004, 07:25 PM

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to crawl under my car over the weekend. My inspection was limited by what I could see from above. I'm going to tell my dealership about it tomorrow since I'm going in for brakes & oil. I'm hoping the "smoke" wasn't a sign of some latent problem waiting to unleash it's wrath on me.

I'm crossing my fingers that it's a loose connection or something simple.

- Kean

PSMWRX · 01-26-2004, 09:23 PM

I am very interested in hearing what you find out what is causing this as I have the same problem every once in a while.

LyveWRX · 01-27-2004, 08:23 PM

several others have had this including me... No news on it being particularly ominous thou...

nick

Schleppy · 01-27-2004, 09:31 PM

I've had it too. It comes and goes, mainly after the car has been idling for a while ( <5 min). But then again, it doesn't happen all the time.

The car runs fine, I can only assume it's a little oil making its way out of the turbo and onto the hot pipes. Not sure what to do about it really.

Kean · 01-28-2004, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the replies folks.

My dealer wasn't able to find any leaks yesterday, but at least I got it documented in case something happens down the road. It only happened to me on the one occassion. It definitely looked as though it was from the passenger side since some smoke came out of that fender well. I'll try to post back here if I see it again. Perhaps it's an intermittent leak as Schleppy describes?

On a side note, they replaced my brakes under warranty. I had 23,000 on my first set and they were already down to the sensor on the driver's side (slightly odd wear on the inboard pad). I thought I might have to pay for a brake job but they told me not to worry about it. I just had to pay for the oil change.

Thanks Again,
- Kean

silversubewrx · 01-28-2004, 04:53 PM

Kean, my car does not have a odor to it when I drive it modestly. However when I flog it hard there is a small oil like odor that comes in through the vents in the car. I have a HKS downpipe, Blitz Nur-Spec R cat-back exhaust. The car is fitted with a TXS Stage 3, and a cold air intake. So who knows! The dealer says that is probably normal concedering the mods I have

Smoke Show · 01-28-2004, 05:04 PM

i had it also and my turbo finally packed it in.. i got the smell when my car was pretty much stock and then i boosted the crap outa it and now im' swapping turbos as we speak.. the seal for the oil in my turbo let go sending oil throught the pipes and intercooler.

Kean · 01-28-2004, 05:19 PM

The odor was only present when the smoke was visible (briefly). Other than that, you would never know that the incident occured. I sure hope this isn't the first signs of a larger issue. Oh well, I still have 13k left on my 3/36k warranty and I believe the turbo is covered under the 5/60k.

Smoke Show · 01-28-2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kean
The odor was only present when the smoke was visible (briefly). Other than that, you would never know that the incident occured. I sure hope this isn't the first signs of a larger issue. Oh well, I still have 13k left on my 3/36k warranty and I believe the turbo is covered under the 5/60k.

at first thats all i would get then after time i could smell oil everytime the bov went off after high rpm shift...

if you document something underwarranty then goes after warranty is up it has to be covered still..

Kean · 01-28-2004, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Smoke Show
at first thats all i would get then after time i could smell oil everytime the bov went off after high rpm shift...

if you document something underwarranty then goes after warranty is up it has to be covered still..

Well....I still have plenty of miles left under warranty so I'm not too worried about it not being covered. My car is "unmodded" except for wheels/tires & 3 gauges in the stock housing. I've also bring my car to the same dealership I bought it at for all service (including oil changes). I pretty confident it will be covered under warranty if something happens down the road.

Thanks for the feedback folks.

- Kean

wrxracer3 · 01-29-2004, 03:38 PM

yeah i only get that oil smell to if i let my car idle to long... kinda wierd..

Lachlan · 01-30-2004, 02:14 PM

Once I had that problem when my oil filter had a hole. Oil was spraying all over the bottom of the car, and I could smell it burning and see the smoke but only when I was stopped.

tymbrwolff · 01-30-2004, 03:15 PM

I had the same problem last summer, My friend told me to follow him and when he made a right onto a major road he took off...mind you he has an 11 second dsm so i had to get on it to catch him and when we got to the next stoplight I had the same problem, a bit of smoke out of my hoodscoop from the passenger side, I pulled over and shut off the car and we both looked at it from every angle we could and couldnt find anything...needless to say i kept it out of boost for the rest of the day got it home and jacked it up and looked more...nothing, and to this day it hasnt done it again...I think i came on here and posted about it back then but no one knew what it was then either.

Kean · 01-30-2004, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tymbrwolff
I had the same problem last summer, My friend told me to follow him and when he made a right onto a major road he took off...mind you he has an 11 second dsm so i had to get on it to catch him and when we got to the next stoplight I had the same problem, a bit of smoke out of my hoodscoop from the passenger side, I pulled over and shut off the car and we both looked at it from every angle we could and couldnt find anything...needless to say i kept it out of boost for the rest of the day got it home and jacked it up and looked more...nothing, and to this day it hasnt done it again...I think i came on here and posted about it back then but no one knew what it was then either.

....same deal as me. Odd stuff my friend.

kochj23 · 01-30-2004, 03:58 PM

Oh, Phew.... I was really starting to get concerned with periodically seeing smoke for some unknown reason.

Kean · 01-30-2004, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kochj23
Oh, Phew.... I was really starting to get concerned with periodically seeing smoke for some unknown reason.

Well......I wouldn't let your gaurd down. This is not something I would consider normal. Personally, I would let your dealer know the next time you're in for service. They'll give it a "once over" and you'll have it documented (just in case something happens down the road).

kochj23 · 01-30-2004, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kean
Personally, I would let your dealer know the next time you're in for service.

Oh yeah, I hear ya. It is just nice to hear that several other people have the same issue. I'll mention it when I take it back for its next oil change.

yosemitemtb · 01-30-2004, 11:08 PM

Add one more to the list, I saw a wisp of smoke and smelled oil after an autocross run last year. Popped the hood and saw a little bit of smoke from the passenger side engine compartment, but not much and we couldn't find a source. I ran 4 more runs and didn't see or smell anything. It only happend that one time. Very strange!

peanuteldrummer · 01-31-2004, 04:55 PM

Same thing here. My car has done the same thing about four times since Dec.. Now that I think about it, it's done it after warming up for a long time

Blair · 01-31-2004, 09:19 PM

I had the same problem with my 04 WRX. It started irregularly and intermittently after I installed an uppipe. Turns out that while removing the uppipe I disturbed one of the black rubber half-moon shaped gaskets that go between the head and the valve cover. The gasket sits directly above the uppipe and any oil that seeps out will drip onto the top of the uppipe and burn off. Maybe check the top of the uppipe and if there is burnt oil residue on it, there is your drip. HTH

Blair

djoye · 02-01-2004, 12:56 AM

My '03 will do it occasionally. I think it started after the dealer worked on my transmission. When I installed my turbo-back exhaust there was no gasket between the turbo and downpipe, I was hoping to re-use that gasket but since it wasn't there I just installed the DP without it. One of these days I'll get a gasket when I do my up-pipe install. I think that'll take care of the problem.

MK19_ · 02-01-2004, 02:10 AM

Wow, this is wild. My car does this on occasion as well. Usually after a long idle... replaced all exhaust gaskets with new Subaru OEM and it still came back once. Basically, the same as everyone else- smoke out of the hood scoop and slight oil smell- IMO, there has to be an oil leak somewhere- perhaps not apparently visible with the TMIC, heat shield, etc. I hope we can nail this issue down- it does offer some cause for concern as it appears to not be an isolated issue.

wrxracer3 · 02-01-2004, 10:18 AM

Iam glad iam not the only that starts makeing an oil burn smell after long idles.

01-26-2004, 03:43 PM	#1
Kean Scooby Guru Member#: 25187 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. CA Vehicle: '08 Foz Prem TGM '10 Challenger R/T Blk	Brief Oil smell and smoke I didn't know if this was the appropriate place to post this since I'm not certain it has anything to do with the turbo. I have no modifications to my car except for 3 gauges (boost, oil pressure, volts) and I had the resonator removed for a week (curious to see what it sounded like and if the mod was worth it). Anyhow, last Saturday morning I was driving to the gas station. At a stop light I suddenly noticed "oily" smoke coming out of my hood scoop and little from the passenger fender-well. This subsided quite rapidly and was totally gone by the time I pulled over to check the engine compartment for leaks. My boost and oil pressure are both normal. Also, I haven't noticed any difference in sound from my engine, turbo, etc. I checked everywhere I could and I can't see any oil residue/leaks (no drips on my driveway after a couple of days either). The problem hasn't occurred since that day and my car is working great. Do you folks have any ideas at all? Is it possible that the smoke was emitting from the intake and into the fender (noting that I had the resonator removed)? I checked all around the turbo to see if I could locate a leaky connection but found nothing. Any ideas/tips you folks have would be a great help. fyi: (not sure it matters) It was in the morning and about 65 degrees out at the time. The car was still a little cold (water temp was at operating temp but oil wasn't). I had to get on it to pass about 15 bicyclists who were taking up one of the lanes. I made a right and then drove for about 1/2 a mile before I came to the light where my incident occurred (I stopped somewhat quickly since I missed the light and then the smoke started). Thanks, Kean * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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01-26-2004, 06:44 PM	#2
wrxracer3 Scooby Newbie Member#: 51897 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NJ Vehicle: 03 WRX WRB	check where the down pipe meets the turbo. I had oil leaking out on the bottom side of the down pipe. It wouldnt drip it would just have a little oil and make a oil burn smell.

01-26-2004, 07:25 PM	#3
Kean Scooby Guru Member#: 25187 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. CA Vehicle: '08 Foz Prem TGM '10 Challenger R/T Blk	Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to crawl under my car over the weekend. My inspection was limited by what I could see from above. I'm going to tell my dealership about it tomorrow since I'm going in for brakes & oil. I'm hoping the "smoke" wasn't a sign of some latent problem waiting to unleash it's wrath on me. I'm crossing my fingers that it's a loose connection or something simple. - Kean

01-26-2004, 09:23 PM	#4
PSMWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21030 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Alexandria,Va Vehicle: 2005 Acura RL 89 Lifted Bronco	I am very interested in hearing what you find out what is causing this as I have the same problem every once in a while.

01-27-2004, 08:23 PM	#5
LyveWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 19057 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Mid-Town, Detroit, MI Vehicle: 2002 WRX & Red Ford 1-ton Van	several others have had this including me... No news on it being particularly ominous thou... nick

01-27-2004, 09:31 PM	#6
Schleppy Scooby Specialist Member#: 15858 Join Date: Feb 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Boston Vehicle: SPB- We're not a team, we're a family	I've had it too. It comes and goes, mainly after the car has been idling for a while ( <5 min). But then again, it doesn't happen all the time. The car runs fine, I can only assume it's a little oil making its way out of the turbo and onto the hot pipes. Not sure what to do about it really.

01-28-2004, 11:51 AM	#7
Kean Scooby Guru Member#: 25187 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. CA Vehicle: '08 Foz Prem TGM '10 Challenger R/T Blk	Thanks for the replies folks. My dealer wasn't able to find any leaks yesterday, but at least I got it documented in case something happens down the road. It only happened to me on the one occassion. It definitely looked as though it was from the passenger side since some smoke came out of that fender well. I'll try to post back here if I see it again. Perhaps it's an intermittent leak as Schleppy describes? On a side note, they replaced my brakes under warranty. I had 23,000 on my first set and they were already down to the sensor on the driver's side (slightly odd wear on the inboard pad). I thought I might have to pay for a brake job but they told me not to worry about it. I just had to pay for the oil change. Thanks Again, - Kean

01-28-2004, 04:53 PM	#8
silversubewrx Scooby Newbie Member#: 23506 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Arvada, Colorado Vehicle: 2002 WRX Sedan Platinum Silver Metalic	Kean, my car does not have a odor to it when I drive it modestly. However when I flog it hard there is a small oil like odor that comes in through the vents in the car. I have a HKS downpipe, Blitz Nur-Spec R cat-back exhaust. The car is fitted with a TXS Stage 3, and a cold air intake. So who knows! The dealer says that is probably normal concedering the mods I have

01-28-2004, 05:04 PM	#9
Smoke Show Scooby Specialist Member#: 25129 Join Date: Sep 2002 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Fort Nelson Vehicle: 2003 wrx stg4++ kills:4trny,mtr,trbo,clth	i had it also and my turbo finally packed it in.. i got the smell when my car was pretty much stock and then i boosted the crap outa it and now im' swapping turbos as we speak.. the seal for the oil in my turbo let go sending oil throught the pipes and intercooler.

01-28-2004, 05:19 PM	#10
Kean Scooby Guru Member#: 25187 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: So. CA Vehicle: '08 Foz Prem TGM '10 Challenger R/T Blk	The odor was only present when the smoke was visible (briefly). Other than that, you would never know that the incident occured. I sure hope this isn't the first signs of a larger issue. Oh well, I still have 13k left on my 3/36k warranty and I believe the turbo is covered under the 5/60k.

01-29-2004, 03:38 PM	#13
wrxracer3 Scooby Newbie Member#: 51897 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NJ Vehicle: 03 WRX WRB	yeah i only get that oil smell to if i let my car idle to long... kinda wierd..

01-30-2004, 02:14 PM	#14
Lachlan Scooby Specialist Member#: 19470 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Dayton, OH Vehicle: 1997 v3 STi 1991 850i	Once I had that problem when my oil filter had a hole. Oil was spraying all over the bottom of the car, and I could smell it burning and see the smoke but only when I was stopped.

01-30-2004, 03:15 PM	#15
tymbrwolff Scooby Newbie Member#: 18108 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Quinebaug, CT Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX Platinum	I had the same problem last summer, My friend told me to follow him and when he made a right onto a major road he took off...mind you he has an 11 second dsm so i had to get on it to catch him and when we got to the next stoplight I had the same problem, a bit of smoke out of my hoodscoop from the passenger side, I pulled over and shut off the car and we both looked at it from every angle we could and couldnt find anything...needless to say i kept it out of boost for the rest of the day got it home and jacked it up and looked more...nothing, and to this day it hasnt done it again...I think i came on here and posted about it back then but no one knew what it was then either.

01-30-2004, 03:58 PM	#17
kochj23 Scooby Newbie Member#: 32806 Join Date: Feb 2003 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Burbank, Ca Vehicle: 2003 WRX Sedan Black	Oh, Phew.... I was really starting to get concerned with periodically seeing smoke for some unknown reason.

01-30-2004, 11:08 PM	#20
yosemitemtb Scooby Specialist Member#: 23437 Join Date: Aug 2002 Chapter/Region: BAIC Location: Yosemite Vehicle: '02 WRX Wagon WR Blue Pearl	Add one more to the list, I saw a wisp of smoke and smelled oil after an autocross run last year. Popped the hood and saw a little bit of smoke from the passenger side engine compartment, but not much and we couldn't find a source. I ran 4 more runs and didn't see or smell anything. It only happend that one time. Very strange!

01-31-2004, 04:55 PM	#21
peanuteldrummer Scooby Newbie Member#: 53110 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: mission, tx Vehicle: 2002 wrx white	Same thing here. My car has done the same thing about four times since Dec.. Now that I think about it, it's done it after warming up for a long time

01-31-2004, 09:19 PM	#22
Blair Scooby Newbie Member#: 29842 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: St Petersburg, Florida Vehicle: 2004 WRX silver	I had the same problem with my 04 WRX. It started irregularly and intermittently after I installed an uppipe. Turns out that while removing the uppipe I disturbed one of the black rubber half-moon shaped gaskets that go between the head and the valve cover. The gasket sits directly above the uppipe and any oil that seeps out will drip onto the top of the uppipe and burn off. Maybe check the top of the uppipe and if there is burnt oil residue on it, there is your drip. HTH Blair

02-01-2004, 12:56 AM	#23
djoye Scooby Specialist Member#: 50072 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Murfreesboro, TN Vehicle: 2003 WRX VF22 12.3@112 20psi	My '03 will do it occasionally. I think it started after the dealer worked on my transmission. When I installed my turbo-back exhaust there was no gasket between the turbo and downpipe, I was hoping to re-use that gasket but since it wasn't there I just installed the DP without it. One of these days I'll get a gasket when I do my up-pipe install. I think that'll take care of the problem.

02-01-2004, 02:10 AM	#24
MK19_ Scooby Specialist Member#: 49148 Join Date: Nov 2003 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Plantation, FL Vehicle: Dogs are forever in the pushup position...	Wow, this is wild. My car does this on occasion as well. Usually after a long idle... replaced all exhaust gaskets with new Subaru OEM and it still came back once. Basically, the same as everyone else- smoke out of the hood scoop and slight oil smell- IMO, there has to be an oil leak somewhere- perhaps not apparently visible with the TMIC, heat shield, etc. I hope we can nail this issue down- it does offer some cause for concern as it appears to not be an isolated issue.

02-01-2004, 10:18 AM	#25
wrxracer3 Scooby Newbie Member#: 51897 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NJ Vehicle: 03 WRX WRB	Iam glad iam not the only that starts makeing an oil burn smell after long idles.