Burnt popcorn smell??


8krpm

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Joined
Jan 3, 2017
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71
Car(s)
EK Civic
Hey guys

Been quiet for a while moving into a place and saving so haven't spent time or money on my car in a while.

I've noticed of late when holding high revs, WOT or downshifting (heel-toe) sometimes the cabin fills with a burnt popcorn-ish smell.

It's difficult to explain, but it's almost like popcorn is being made with too much oil in the mix (anyone who's ever worked at a theatre will know what I mean)... it almost smells like burnt popcorn.

Engine oil is fine, I haven't heard any questionable sounds, radiator coolant is fine and the car doesn't seem to be blowing smoke.

It smells very exhausty. I have noticed my brake fluid gets low which I've been topping off every now and then pending actually fixing it, but even then it doesn't seem to have decreased a lot when the smell occurs.

I suspect my clutch is on the way out (although it doesn't feel too bad) - does anyone know possible causes? It's a very very distinct smell.

Edit: Also I know my power steering pump leaks a tiny bit of power steering fluid, which smells like crap anyway. I would imagine some of this falling onto the exhaust manifold would be able to cause a smell I'm describing. Any takers?
 
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Check for fluid on or around the exhaust manifold. Mine used to smell like burnt oil all the time, turns out the driveshaft seal was ****** and sprayed gear oil all over the place mostly on a spirited drive when obviously the oil is moving around at a faster rate and was burning off around the exhaust manifold.
 
Check for fluid on or around the exhaust manifold. Mine used to smell like burnt oil all the time, turns out the driveshaft seal was ****** and sprayed gear oil all over the place mostly on a spirited drive when obviously the oil is moving around at a faster rate and was burning off around the exhaust manifold.

I'll check this, this could mean my gearbox oil could be low as well? Better check this
 
If it is leaking from the box then yes, when I removed the shafts from the box when splitting it for parts usually oil would pour out, nothing came out and I had only put fresh oil in it not long before too, so something to consider.
 
If it is leaking from the box then yes, when I removed the shafts from the box when splitting it for parts usually oil would pour out, nothing came out and I had only put fresh oil in it not long before too, so something to consider.
Interesting. I'll check it out tonight, not too difficult to check and I do have some spare gearbox oil lying around from last service.

Thanks for the advise, will report back.
 
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