Oil/fluid smell in interior

[JoeliusZ28]

My car seems to have a new feature this year... I have an intermittent smell almost exactly like differential fluid coming through my HVAC. Seems to be there about 50% of the time. Cant figure out what it is, nothing seems to be touching or dripping on the headers. When i open the hood i catch a wiff of it initially but cant pinpoint it.

I did find one thing that concerns me though...what looks to be coolant weeping from my head gaskets. Could this be a source of the smell? I dont think my gaskets are blown but it does concern me. Fluids look good my dad is going to bring a pressure tester home from work tomorrow. Car still runs strong as ever.

[1BADAIR]

coolant is a sweet smell

[JoeliusZ28]

Even if its burning on something?

If we can cross that off that leaves, PS fluid, brake fluid, clutch fluid, or a piece of rubber/plastic burning somewhere but it hasnt gone away in a couple hundred miles so i doubt its the latter.

[sman]

Re: Oil/fluid smell in interior

Yes, especially when it's hot.

Don't lt1 cars have problems with the intake sealing around the valley? Could it need to be resealed around the back where you can't see it?

I'd get it up in the air and check for an oil leak there. But you know LT cars better than me, lol

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[JoeliusZ28]

Im pretty sure its been dripping out the back of the intake since at least 2009 or so. Its never been a torrential leak and it very rarely drips oil in its parking spot so I just leave it. Ive tried leaving the car idle after driving it (good and hot) and i cant find any oil burning on anything. The smell seems to fade away when the car isnt moving. You would think some smoke would give it away if it was oil burning?

[hoogiesngrinderz]

coolant is definitely sweet smelling when it gets hot (it is usually ethylene glycol)

80-90w oil, or similar heavy weight, has a very distinct smell as well.

Did you paint the new steering shaft you installed?

[Dummybait]

Joel, you or someone didnt happen to dump say, a quart of oil the like in the vents? i had the exact same issue in my S-10 back in the day. took it in for some warranty work and needed an oil change anyhow. i remember leaving and smelling it for the next few days until i came back and i inquired about the issue, they said they had a quart of oil tip over on my vent grill and lost about a half quart down there ( i gave them my own oil)

not sure why they didn't tell me at the scene of the crime, but anyhow, it mostly went away after they sprayed it off down in there with degreaser or somthing.

Seems like a pretty obvious catch, just thought i'd bring it up.

[JoeliusZ28]

coolant is definitely sweet smelling when it gets hot (it is usually ethylene glycol)

80-90w oil, or similar heavy weight, has a very distinct smell as well.

Did you paint the new steering shaft you installed?

It is the distinct smell of gear oil or something burning that happens to be exactly like it. My dad changed his in the Nova yesterday, and it was also exactly the same smell.

Scott maybe youre on to something there... Not to point fingers but my dad changed my diff fluid as a favor for me over the winter maybe he spilled some somewhere. The car would have been up in the air on the hoist though, so cowl area seems unlikely.

[Dummybait]

It is the distinct smell of gear oil or something burning that happens to be exactly like it. My dad changed his in the Nova yesterday, and it was also exactly the same smell.

Scott maybe youre on to something there... Not to point fingers but my dad changed my diff fluid as a favor for me over the winter maybe he spilled some somewhere. The car would have been up in the air on the hoist though, so cowl area seems unlikely.

If you havnt already done so, maybe give the car a good wash under the hood, use some degreaser or somthing. You said you only smell it when your moving so its gotta be up front. if the smell comes back, then their might be a reason to be concerned.

[farmington]

ahhh, the distinct aroma of gear lube..... nasty.

[JoeliusZ28]

If you havnt already done so, maybe give the car a good wash under the hood, use some degreaser or somthing. You said you only smell it when your moving so its gotta be up front. if the smell comes back, then their might be a reason to be concerned.

OPTI !!! good call, ill give it a try.

ahhh, the distinct aroma of gear lube..... nasty.

Exactly - not going to impress any ladies

[Dummybait]

OPTI !!! good call, ill give it a try.

oh yeah... forgot about that!

[Lucky SOB]

Can you close the vents and turn the fan off to see if it still smells?

[JoeliusZ28]

Can you close the vents and turn the fan off to see if it still smells?

Not the fix im looking for Fred jk... But the smell seems to blow directly out of the vents if thats what you are asking.

[Atrus]

Any chance it could be the blower resistor pack self-destructing or something?