burnt oil smell only upon start up

taosx5 · #1 10-04-2011, 09:25 PM

Ok here is the deal. I have searched and cannot find a similar problem.

I have an 03 4.6 (same color and year as Poor Weasels) with 89K miles on the clock. My office is about 3 miles from my house. I drove to office one morning and got out and smelled this burnt oil smell. I assumed it was the 4 Runner parked next to me.

This continued every day when I arrived at work. After about a week I noticed it was coming from my X5 but could not figure out where. It only happens after a short drive after start up then goes away. I drove her on a 3000 mile road trip in Sept without a single glitch. I added about a quarter of a quart of oil along the way. No drips or any evidence of any leaks that I can tell. It is still doing it but only after start up then goes away. Anyone????

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Sundayjumper · #2 10-05-2011, 01:58 AM

There will be a small oil leak somewhere. With the engine running and hot it is so slow that it burns off without you noticing but overnight it'll leave enough sitting on the exhaust that as the car warms up in the morning it all burns off and you can smell it. I had a 530i with exactly the same symptoms and it was the cam carrier gasket. So that would be my first port of call.

taosx5 · #3 10-05-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundayjumper

There will be a small oil leak somewhere. With the engine running and hot it is so slow that it burns off without you noticing but overnight it'll leave enough sitting on the exhaust that as the car warms up in the morning it all burns off and you can smell it. I had a 530i with exactly the same symptoms and it was the cam carrier gasket. So that would be my first port of call.

Thanks Sundayjumper. I suspected something that would leak off enough over night that upon start would burn off but not sure where to look. Were you able to see the actual leak, is it a pia to replace that gasket? Any advise is greatly appreciated, thank you.

taosx5 · #4 10-11-2011, 09:37 PM

bump, Anyone?? Sure appreciate any ideas. No leaks on the garage floor, no adding any fluids, except about a 1/4 liter of oil in over 5,000 miles.
Thanks in advance for any thing.

romeokc10 · #5 10-11-2011, 09:55 PM

Hey taosx5, it's been my experience in the short time I've owned my 2002 4.6is and from reading here on the forum, is that all X5 models leak oil like the Exxon Valdez, ok not that bad but you get my point. One thing I've never seen anybody mention when it comes to tracing down oil leaks, is to check inside the stiffener plate. I took mine off earlier this year to clean it and you wouldn't believe the amount of oil sludge and dirt that was on the top side of it!! I used a whole box of SOS pads trying to clean out all of the oil, but my X never burns oil nor do I get an oil burning smell. But the bottom of the engine is always wet, these things just constantly weep oil.

RMak · #6 12-17-2011, 11:32 AM

I'm having the same symptoms... upon cold start up burning smell and a little smoke from the right side by the wipers. Once all warmed up, the smoke and smell are gone. No oil puddles anywhere.

I actually just got back from my mechanic not too long ago and he said that the area around the valve cover gaskets are " slightly wet" but not dripping. I can still drive it and all. My next oil change, i'll look into getting the valve cover gaskets replaced. I actually had my valve cover gaskets replaced about a year ago from another Indy mechanic that I used but since have not gone back. Nice people, but the work wasn't up to par. I only went to them because they were closer to my house. Now i'm back to my original Indy that I should have never left.

kkodal78 · #7 12-17-2011, 03:59 PM

i have 03 model year 4.6 and had the same smell and mine was the oil filler cap not sealing and leaking. i thought the valve cover gasket but they were replaced recently and bo leaks from them. after changing the filler cap no more smell

motordavid · #8 12-17-2011, 05:55 PM

CCV would be a reasonable guess on where to start looking, esp the short trip/cold weather posters.

Pages of threads on the topic(s)...here's a recent and very informative thread:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...pondering.html

GL, mD

taosx5 · #9 12-18-2011, 09:40 AM

Hey all, thanks for your input. I am narrowing things down. I think I have two separate issues. I did experience an oil leak which I am pretty certain is being caused by a sticky CCV. Secondly I have a very slight cooling system leak evident of some dried coolant on the bottom of the the aluminum skid plate. After lots of research on the forums, I suspect it is either coming from the valley pan or possibly one of the coolant hoses possibly to the heater core.

The oil leak has happened twice on the usual suspect days, ie very cold morning after the car had been sitting in a gargae for a few days and then a very short start up and drive. I only lost about an eight of a mark on the dipstick between oil changes.

On the coolant leak it is still happening but have not had to add any coolant yet. Since I am working every day from now thru the holidays I will be driving my truck and then schedule some work to be done on the X5 after the new year. I think I will have the oil separator replaced along with all of the hoses in connection with the oil system and inspect the valve cover gaskets and all other related items.

Then I think I will have the cooling system inspected and most likely replace all of the cooling hoses, flush the system and probably replace the water pump and thermostat. I attempt some DIYS but all of this combined is way above my pay grade and ability.

Thank you all of your contributors to the forum and have a great holiday. May the new year bring trouble free driving and may your Bimmers keep running great and problem free all year.

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