| Subject: | Burning Smell Coming from Dash Vents |
| Question: | Hi Anthony, I have a 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT, manual transmission. No major repairs, up-to-date on regular oil changes. I'm noticing a burning smell coming from the dash vents...at first it seemed to appear only when the heat was on...but now it appears even when the heat is turned off. I've looked at the tires, the belts and in/ around anything I could see and don't see anything rubbing or stuck anywhere that would appear to be causing such a smell. Any ideas? Thanks! Beth Quincy, MA |
| Answer: | Beth,
If you've had a recent oil change, some of the oil could have splashed or dripped onto an exhaust pipe of other hot part of the engine. Check to see if your dipstick is fully secure. Sometimes those can pop out and oil can blow out of the dipstick tube. It is possible you are low on transmission fluid. Unfortunately, there's no convenient dipstick as with automatic transmission. But your local neighborhood mechanic can check this out. If your car is still under warranty, have the dealership check the fluid and the clutch. It's possible to have a clogged PCV valve, when that valve gets clogged, crankcase pressure can build up and force some oil out of the dipstick tube or other such areas. Those valves are cheap and fairly easy to replace. Again, if the car is under warranty, have the dealership look at it. I doubt you have any major problem, but it's possible you have a slight
oil leak somewhere. There are lots of different types of oil (engine,
brake, power steering, transmission) and any one of them can give a burning
smell if they are exposed to a hot surface. Also, make sure whom ever
is performing your oil changes is using the correct grade of oil. 5W-30
for below freezing climates and 10W-30 for climates that average from
cold to very warm. Hot climates should use 20W-50. Also make sure the
oil filter is not too tight. Overtightened filters can cause leaks. |