Just how much of a stinky, oily smell is normal for a 911?

[mmm]

My 1989 Carrera 3.2 has a pretty strong oily smell to it, both in the car's interior and now permeating my garage. Is this entirely normal or something I should be concerned about. The car seems to use about a quart every 1200 miles or so, but doesn't drip any oil anywhere.

There is also a bit of a fuel smell to the front trunk. Normal?

[JeremyD]

Oil leak? or exhaust valve guides

[mmm]

Exhaust valve guides? Had a PPI done, no mention of that.

[kevjandon]

That's called a patina!


My wife hates it.

Sounds like you might have an issue though if it's an unbearable smell.

[tt_targa]

Mine doesn't drop oil.

If I park it in the garage HOT and then shut the door it smells up the garage worse than I expected.

[mmm]

Originally posted by kevjandon
That's called a patina!


My wife hates it.

Sounds like you might have an issue though if it's an unbearable smell.

It's not unbearable by any means but it is strong and certainly something you notice going into the garage or opening the door of the car or sitting down inside. I dunno. I'll have to run in sometime and ask John Walker about it.

[Steve87-911]

Well I'll check in and say my 3.2 doesn't smell like oil, outside or inside. I know some cars do smell of oil but mine is one of few that doesn't. (Except of course when that big old cold start cloud gets trapped in the garage, then the wife freaks out.)

If it helps, mine doesn't leak at all but it burns more oil than yours, and it still doesn't stink of oil.

I'd check the top of your heat exchangers. I used to have a couple vw bugs with oily heat exchangers and those cars did stink big time. The oil would drip from the valve covers right onto those cookers. There are a few other places that could be leaking on top of the case too.

Mine has no fuel smell anywhere either, btw.

The only smell it does leave in the garage after hot shutdown is a slight, almost radiator-water smell. I never could figure that one out. I thought is was condensation but it even does it right after an oil change.

[anthony]

No stink, no leaks on my SC.

[mmm]

Thanks all. Anyone else care to weigh in?

[ckissick]

Compared to my car, yours is new. At least for my vintage, an oily smell is par for the course. I have a new engine with no leaks and a clean engine bay, and there is a minor smell. It used to be far worse with the old engine, especially since it leaked onto the heat exchangers.

As for the fuel small in the front, that can be considered normal, in that it is common. But you should fix that by replacing fuel lines and such. Do a search here. There was a recent thread on this topic.

[yelcab1]

No leaks, and no oil smell is the "normal" expectation for a Porsche.
For a Ferrari, that is considered pre-requisite.

[B D]

Some smell but if I leave the garage open for two minutes and then shut it there is no problem. I think most of the smell I am getting is from the paint on the Dansk sport muffler burning off.

[Drago]

Smells like an old VW Bug.

It's an air-cooled thing.

[targa911S]

Ah ....man that's Porsche perfume! It's air cooled thing.

[targa911S]

Originally posted by anthony
No stink, no leaks on my SC.

Of course..it's an SC. You guys don't put oil in those do ya? A friend of mine has one and I swear it never even thinks about leaking oil how'd they do that? My early S "marks" every place she sits. It's a territory thing.

[mmm]

So I'm confused. Some are saying it shouldn't smell like anything and others are saying it's normal. So which is it?

[targa911S]

I have an early car so ...I think it's normal to a degree. I mean if it smells like you are behind an insect control sprayer well now that is NOT normal.

[fuelie600]

My 87 had that oil smell inside when I bought it. I purchased it from a friend, who's wife hated that smell. She called it the stinky car.

Anyway, It had several small oil leaks that used to drip on the heat exchangers. Oil burning off worked it's way inside through the heat and scented the car.

I fixed the leaks last year, and also steam cleaned the carpets. Now the smell is gone.

You might have a small leak on top of your exhaust.

On the fuel smell in the luggage compartment, I would find the source of that one. Maybe there is a loose vent hose?

[Steve87-911]

Originally posted by mmm
So I'm confused. Some are saying it shouldn't smell like anything and others are saying it's normal. So which is it?

I think what we're all saying is that if you have some oil leaks, then it will stink. If no leaks, then no stink.

Run your hand over the heat exchangers (with the engine cold obviously). Are they dry and oil free? If oily, then there is your likely problem. Oily heat exchangers will let that smell drift into the cabin plus the oil will keep burnig a while after shutdown.

[mmm]

Ah, I see. Help me out. Where exactly should I check? Where are the heat exchangers? Part of the exhaust/heat system, right? I'm still new to this. Picture? Diagram?

I've not spent nearly enough time under my car yet.