Burning smell from idling 99 2.5rs

cwb124 · 12-06-2003, 04:17 PM

So I just bought a used 99 2.5rs with 65k miles on it.

I started it up this morning to warm it up, and after going back to the car 10 minutes later, I smell a burning smell. I don't know where it's coming from.

I can also smell it inside the vehicle.

So I drive around and pull up to Arby's drive-thru, and the smell comes back. It's not a "oh my God the car's going to catch fire" smell, but it's a "something's not quite right" smell. I've smelled it a little bit a few days ago, but thought it was another car in front of me.

Any ideas off the top of your heads? I know it's a stretch with the given information. Car is completely stock btw.

Thanks,

CB

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kirk38 · 12-06-2003, 08:27 PM

Check the hoses that come from your intake make sure that there attached to your engine. Becouse oil does flow through them and if the oil gets on your engine it smell like something is burning.

Charlie-III · 12-07-2003, 01:30 PM

1999 2.5L suby engine.

My first guess is a rear main seal.
Second guess is the rear oil seperator plate.

Both drop oil down the back of the engine and it eventually drops on the exhaust cross pipe.

It is only a bit at first and you may not see drops on the ground, but you WILL see stains on the exhaust.

Best bet is to get the engine REAL clean and then go out and drive it. Put it up on ramps and look at the back of the engine/rear of the oil pan for leaks.

Patrick L · 12-07-2003, 05:57 PM

Is it a nasty smell?
A common problem is the grease seal on the inside of the front half shafts at the tranny. It a donut seal that sits between the inside CV joint and tranny as seen in this pic marked as 28337 on the top of the picture.

These have been know too leak grease from the half shaft, downt he side of the tranny and onto the header. This was a problem with the 99-00 from personel experience. There was a service bullettin on it.

SubaruImpreza_power · 12-28-2003, 01:53 AM

Did you ever find out what it was??

I found my 98 2.5 engine the seal or whatever is dripping and hitting the exhaust cross pipe... It scared the living P*** out of me... I drove all the way to Canada from Connecticut and I stopped at this rest stop in Vermont, And all I see is white smoke coming from the front of the car Also with the smell of oil..

Car is using oil like crazy right now

cwb124 · 12-28-2003, 10:15 AM

Yeah I had a cam seal leak as well as a front mail seal leak. I can't tell you how much it cost to fix because I did a 60k mile maintenance as well as timing belt change and new rear rotors/pads. I was also dripping oil onto the exhaust and that was causing the smell. I never saw smoke however, sounds like your leak may be worse than mine.

Just pray it's not a cracked block.

CB

ScoobySnackZ · 12-29-2003, 03:28 AM

maybe you need to change the oil seals... that happened to my 97 obs and after i got the oil seals changed.. the smell and the smoke went away..

Charlie-III · 12-29-2003, 11:27 AM

If it is a rear main seal or oil seperator plate, it will eventually soak the clutch (if you have a MT) and cause it to slip.

Figure out what it is and get it taken care of before the cost of repair goes up.

maharashii · 01-02-2004, 10:42 AM

I have the same problem. It started just after I got the car back from the transmission shop (replaced 2nd gear).

Maybe I should take it back to them ...

bovid4585 · 01-04-2004, 12:55 AM

Sounds like I have pretty much the same problem. I can see a slight oil leak on the bottom of the front engine cover shroud. It appears to be wind driven while moving back across the bottom of the oil pan and then onto the exhaust shrouds. Causes a foul burning smell that goes away within a few minutes after stopping. A helpful fellow from Seattle said he had the same problem around 65000 to 70000 miles and it was the front cam seals. Has anyone had them changed and how much did it cost you?

cwb124 · 01-04-2004, 09:59 AM

I had mine changed, but like I said above, I had so much stuff done I don't know what it costs. I do know that when they are in there, you might as well get the timing belt and/or tensioner looked at or replaced. I opted for replacing the timing belt, because it was only an extra $80 since he was right there, and probably a couple hundred if I was to bring it back later to get replaced.

I'd say for a front cam seal, it might cost $200-$300. Just my estimate though.

CB

12-06-2003, 04:17 PM	#1
cwb124 Scooby Specialist Member#: 15571 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Not where you think Vehicle: 2006 06 Forester XT Silver	Burning smell from idling 99 2.5rs So I just bought a used 99 2.5rs with 65k miles on it. I started it up this morning to warm it up, and after going back to the car 10 minutes later, I smell a burning smell. I don't know where it's coming from. I can also smell it inside the vehicle. So I drive around and pull up to Arby's drive-thru, and the smell comes back. It's not a "oh my God the car's going to catch fire" smell, but it's a "something's not quite right" smell. I've smelled it a little bit a few days ago, but thought it was another car in front of me. Any ideas off the top of your heads? I know it's a stretch with the given information. Car is completely stock btw. Thanks, CB * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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12-06-2003, 08:27 PM	#2
kirk38 Scooby Newbie Member#: 17588 Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Syracuse NY Vehicle: 2006 WRX SILVER	Check the hoses that come from your intake make sure that there attached to your engine. Becouse oil does flow through them and if the oil gets on your engine it smell like something is burning.

12-07-2003, 01:30 PM	#3
Charlie-III Scooby Specialist Member#: 30669 Join Date: Dec 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: 07456, North NJ Vehicle: 1998 Legacy 2.5GT Silver Sleeper Wagon	1999 2.5L suby engine. My first guess is a rear main seal. Second guess is the rear oil seperator plate. Both drop oil down the back of the engine and it eventually drops on the exhaust cross pipe. It is only a bit at first and you may not see drops on the ground, but you WILL see stains on the exhaust. Best bet is to get the engine REAL clean and then go out and drive it. Put it up on ramps and look at the back of the engine/rear of the oil pan for leaks.

12-07-2003, 05:57 PM	#4
Patrick L Scooby Specialist Member#: 634 Join Date: Dec 1999 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: LMSports/Kartboy/Izoomgraphics Vehicle: 2000 Impreza 2.5RS DSP#195/ZzyzxMotorsports	Is it a nasty smell? A common problem is the grease seal on the inside of the front half shafts at the tranny. It a donut seal that sits between the inside CV joint and tranny as seen in this pic marked as 28337 on the top of the picture. These have been know too leak grease from the half shaft, downt he side of the tranny and onto the header. This was a problem with the 99-00 from personel experience. There was a service bullettin on it.

12-28-2003, 01:53 AM	#5
SubaruImpreza_power Scooby Guru Member#: 13910 Join Date: Jan 2002 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Greenwich, CT Vehicle: 1997 Legacy outback blue	Did you ever find out what it was?? I found my 98 2.5 engine the seal or whatever is dripping and hitting the exhaust cross pipe... It scared the living P*** out of me... I drove all the way to Canada from Connecticut and I stopped at this rest stop in Vermont, And all I see is white smoke coming from the front of the car Also with the smell of oil.. Car is using oil like crazy right now

12-28-2003, 10:15 AM	#6
cwb124 Scooby Specialist Member#: 15571 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Not where you think Vehicle: 2006 06 Forester XT Silver	Yeah I had a cam seal leak as well as a front mail seal leak. I can't tell you how much it cost to fix because I did a 60k mile maintenance as well as timing belt change and new rear rotors/pads. I was also dripping oil onto the exhaust and that was causing the smell. I never saw smoke however, sounds like your leak may be worse than mine. Just pray it's not a cracked block. CB

12-29-2003, 03:28 AM	#7
ScoobySnackZ Scooby Newbie Member#: 18541 Join Date: May 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Summit, NJ Vehicle: 2005 07 ForesterFSXT WRB	maybe you need to change the oil seals... that happened to my 97 obs and after i got the oil seals changed.. the smell and the smoke went away..

12-29-2003, 11:27 AM	#8
Charlie-III Scooby Specialist Member#: 30669 Join Date: Dec 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: 07456, North NJ Vehicle: 1998 Legacy 2.5GT Silver Sleeper Wagon	If it is a rear main seal or oil seperator plate, it will eventually soak the clutch (if you have a MT) and cause it to slip. Figure out what it is and get it taken care of before the cost of repair goes up.

01-02-2004, 10:42 AM	#9
maharashii Scooby Newbie Member#: 41022 Join Date: Aug 2003	I have the same problem. It started just after I got the car back from the transmission shop (replaced 2nd gear). Maybe I should take it back to them ...

01-04-2004, 12:55 AM	#10
bovid4585 Scooby Newbie Member#: 51425 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: North West Indiana	Sounds like I have pretty much the same problem. I can see a slight oil leak on the bottom of the front engine cover shroud. It appears to be wind driven while moving back across the bottom of the oil pan and then onto the exhaust shrouds. Causes a foul burning smell that goes away within a few minutes after stopping. A helpful fellow from Seattle said he had the same problem around 65000 to 70000 miles and it was the front cam seals. Has anyone had them changed and how much did it cost you?

01-04-2004, 09:59 AM	#11
cwb124 Scooby Specialist Member#: 15571 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Not where you think Vehicle: 2006 06 Forester XT Silver	I had mine changed, but like I said above, I had so much stuff done I don't know what it costs. I do know that when they are in there, you might as well get the timing belt and/or tensioner looked at or replaced. I opted for replacing the timing belt, because it was only an extra $80 since he was right there, and probably a couple hundred if I was to bring it back later to get replaced. I'd say for a front cam seal, it might cost $200-$300. Just my estimate though. CB