Oil smell while driving and windows down?

tbonem3 · 03-14-2013, 08:46 AM

hello folks,

Lately when I drive with the windows down, I tend to smell an old/used oil smell, and has gotten my attention because when i get home, my cloths will have that smell on them?!

Sometimes I question myself whether this smell is coming from traffic/pollution around me or coming from my own car.

I have not noticed any oil leaks in my driveway nor any oil under the hood lately. I am planning to take a closer look again this evening.

when i first got the car brand new, after the break in period I noticed an oil leak and the dealer said it was a crank gasket leaking and they replaced it, but never cleaned the mess. I went ahead and did my best to clean the spilled oil on the passenger's side engine compartment using simple green.

Could this oil smell be leftover oil residue burning? Anyone else experience similar oil smell that sticks on your clothes? Thanks.

Mr.MichaelM3 · 03-14-2013, 09:10 AM

What mods do you have? or is the car stock? If it's stock then I would have it check out ASAP

Chriskm3 · 03-14-2013, 09:17 AM

Check the oil level first. See if its in usually range. I assume your still under warranty so go ahead and get it check out ASAP.

THE TECH · 03-14-2013, 09:30 AM

Hard to say. I had a customer who forgot to put their oil cap back on and oil got all over the car, the engine, everywhere. It took a while to get the oil all gone even after they had a complete detail of the car.

Make sure you still don't have oil leaking on the ground or leaking from anywhere you can see in the engine.

ChrisK · 03-14-2013, 09:46 AM

Check your oil cap first.

M3PO · 03-14-2013, 09:47 PM

If it was the crank seal that they replaced, it's probably leaking again. Properly installing a crank seal is tough. It will be difficult to see looking from the top and may not have made it to the point of dripping on the floor (the underpan will catch it).

tbonem3 · 03-17-2013, 06:41 AM

I am leaning towards old oil left over from the leak burning off, but I am also monitoring closely.

I took it and did a steam clean over the weekend, and the smell seems to be less now, but i can still smell occasionally. I am planning to do another steam clean in the next couple days and see where that stands.

No oil on the driveway floor, oil cap shut and not leaking and no visible oil splashing in the engine compartment.

Man that steam clean makes the engine look brand new!

03-14-2013, 08:46 AM	#1
tbonem3 Private First Class 27 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Oil smell while driving and windows down? hello folks, Lately when I drive with the windows down, I tend to smell an old/used oil smell, and has gotten my attention because when i get home, my cloths will have that smell on them?! Sometimes I question myself whether this smell is coming from traffic/pollution around me or coming from my own car. I have not noticed any oil leaks in my driveway nor any oil under the hood lately. I am planning to take a closer look again this evening. when i first got the car brand new, after the break in period I noticed an oil leak and the dealer said it was a crank gasket leaking and they replaced it, but never cleaned the mess. I went ahead and did my best to clean the spilled oil on the passenger's side engine compartment using simple green. Could this oil smell be leftover oil residue burning? Anyone else experience similar oil smell that sticks on your clothes? Thanks.
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03-14-2013, 09:10 AM	#2
Mr.MichaelM3 First Lieutenant 67 Rep 373 Posts Drives: 2022 M3XC Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (0)	What mods do you have? or is the car stock? If it's stock then I would have it check out ASAP __________________ 2010 E90 M3 ESS-vt1 550 SOLD but never forgotten 2015 F80 M3: JB4 and MPE 2022 G80 M3CX: At port
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03-14-2013, 09:17 AM	#3
Chriskm3 Colonel 59 Rep 2,186 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	Check the oil level first. See if its in usually range. I assume your still under warranty so go ahead and get it check out ASAP.
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03-14-2013, 09:30 AM	#4
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Hard to say. I had a customer who forgot to put their oil cap back on and oil got all over the car, the engine, everywhere. It took a while to get the oil all gone even after they had a complete detail of the car. Make sure you still don't have oil leaking on the ground or leaking from anywhere you can see in the engine.
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03-14-2013, 09:46 AM	#5
ChrisK Major General 4454 Rep 7,594 Posts Drives: '19 M2C Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chicagoland iTrader: (7) Garage List 2019 BMW M2C [7.00] 2015 Porsche Macan S [0.00]	Check your oil cap first. __________________ www.ReTuneTheDeTune.com 2019 M2 Competition (Sunset Orange)
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03-14-2013, 09:47 PM	#6
M3PO Colonel 84 Rep 2,792 Posts Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (7)	If it was the crank seal that they replaced, it's probably leaking again. Properly installing a crank seal is tough. It will be difficult to see looking from the top and may not have made it to the point of dripping on the floor (the underpan will catch it). __________________ 2008 IB E92 M3\| BBS \| KW \| Arkym \| Platte Forme A.G. \| Active Autowerke \| K&N \| Fabspeed \| Dinan \| Evolve-R
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03-17-2013, 06:41 AM	#7
tbonem3 Private First Class 27 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I am leaning towards old oil left over from the leak burning off, but I am also monitoring closely. I took it and did a steam clean over the weekend, and the smell seems to be less now, but i can still smell occasionally. I am planning to do another steam clean in the next couple days and see where that stands. No oil on the driveway floor, oil cap shut and not leaking and no visible oil splashing in the engine compartment. Man that steam clean makes the engine look brand new!
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