Smoke In Cabin

[F1FTEENTH]

Hey guys, whenever i turn on my defrost or heat, i get a burning smell, such as oil, and my cabin begins to get smokey........whats should i do? winter is coming and i dont want to have to breath smoke to defrost my windows, thanks

[SKperformance]

first try and trace where it is coming from , or if you already know post it!

[Toysrme]

Nearly any externial oil leak on the engine will find a way to drip onto the y-pipe where it smolders.

The rear valve cover gasket is the most common cause.

[F1FTEENTH]

I asked my dad if, since i plan to replace the rear valve cover gasket, if that would solve the problem, and he said NO...so.....is he wrong? or is their more than one thing i need fixed?

[Toysrme]

If the rear valve cover gasket is where the oil is leaking from (80% of the time it is) replacing it stops the oil leak.

In any case, oil is slowly leaking out of the engine & replacing whatever gasket is allowing the oil to leak will fix the problem - so your dad is wrong.

[ford212.809]

That smell in the cabin AND the "smoke" is due to the fact that your heater core is "busted". On most cars, it is located behind the glovebox compartment - next to the firewall. It usually has two pipes that go through the firewall and has the heater hoses from the engine compartment connected to the pipes. Hope this helps!! ;)

[Toysrme]

yeeaaaaaa, no.

[steviej]

That smell in the cabin AND the "smoke" is due to the fact that your heater core is "busted".  On most cars, it is located behind the glovebox compartment - next to the firewall.  It usually has two pipes that go through the firewall and has the heater hoses from the engine compartment connected to the pipes.  Hope this helps!! ;)

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ford, that might explain a maple syrup smell and a puddle of green or red liquid on the passenger's floor. How would this explain smoke and a burned petroleum smell?

steviej

[ford212.809]

I just remember when I had a Mustang many years ago, when the heater core failed, ALL the windows had a foggy "film" as a result of the failure of the core.

The smell is one that you will never forget - it is different. Burnt oil, maple syrup,

call it what you will. I just know that if there is liquid in the floor on the passenger's side, it is a 95% chance that it is the core that is bad.

By the way, that film on the windows is extremely difficult to remove - almost impossible as a matter of fact. ;)

[ford212.809]

One other thing, that "smell" will only occur when the heater or defroster is selected. During daylight, the smokey fog it is real noticable.

All three heater cores that I replaced were on American cars in the late 70's & 80's

[chrispiss]

I have a burning oil smell sometimes in my car and I've had the valve cover gaskets replaced, didn't help. I'm running synthetic oil too, and the smell never occured when I used regular oil. No blue smoke from the exhaust either, I have a mystery leak somewhere.

[steviej]

chris, in addition to the valve cover gaskets, the real main seal is often times suspect in burning oil smells.

steviej