YACT - Name that smell (Burnt rubber smell after oil change)

[Nitemare]

Took my car in for an oil change on Sunday. I called Firestone but was not going to wait a couple of hours for an oil change so I decided to take it in to Sears Auto Center. I've purchased tires from them before and have been happy with them. The oil change was fairly expensive, but they top off all my fluids and check alot of things as well as inflate tires. They used 20w Castrol I think.

After I received the car back from them, I noticed a burnt rubber kind of smell. I noticed nothing wrong in the car performance and no light indicators of any kind. I thought it would probably go away but I smelled it again this morning after I got to work.

The car:
2001 Honda Accord EX 4cylinder VTEC
42k miles properly maintained

 

[Eli]

Probably just some spilled oil.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: Eli
Probably just some spilled oil.

Yep.

 

[Rogue]

Always happens to me too. They usually get a little oil on the engine or exhaust somewhere and it can take a day or two to burn off completely.

 

[Nitemare]

This is what I was thinking as well, but I remember reading somewhere about Hoida's having an O ring on the oil filter that occasionally gets left off when replacing the oil filter unless you are careful not to forget it.

Is that just Honda propaganda to try and get you in the Dealer's for an oil change?

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: Eli
Probably just some spilled oil.

I've had this happen before and I'm inclined to agree with Eli. I wouldn't worry about it unless it persists for a while.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
This is what I was thinking as well, but I remember reading somewhere about Hoida's having an O ring on the oil filter that occasionally gets left off when replacing the oil filter unless you are careful not to forget it.

Is that just Honda propaganda to try and get you in the Dealer's for an oil change?

I'm sure Sears sees plenty of Hondas, I wouldn't worry too much. Many cars have this problem... in my Nissan when you change the filter it's almost impossible not to get some oil on the exhaust. It's not a big deal, it will be gone in a few days.

 

[iamwiz82]

i dont think there is a change when my engine doesnt smell like burning oil. I'm either too lazy to find my funnel or too lazy to clean it, or in a hurry.

 

[Nitemare]

K, Guess this was the first time that I've had any oil spilt on the engine.


Thankz

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Nitemare
K, Guess this was the first time that I've had any oil spilt on the engine.


Thankz

If that o-ring was still stuck on, ie you had the new one on top of the old one, oil would have sprayed everywhere and made a huge mess. This happened to my friend's daughter when she changed the oil on her Civic once. Man was he pissed about the mess in the garage.

 

[Wingznut]

I'm not sure where the oil filter is located on the Honda, but on many cars it is above the exhaust. When you remove the filter, you will undoubtedly get a little bit on the exhaust, and it will take a day or two to burn off (depending on how much you drive it.)

So, it may not be anyone's fault if your car smells like burning oil after a change.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Wingznut
I'm not sure where the oil filter is located on the Honda, but on many cars it is above the exhaust. When you remove the filter, you will undoubtedly get a little bit on the exhaust, and it will take a day or two to burn off (depending on how much you drive it.)

So, it may not be anyone's fault if your car smells like burning oil after a change.

On the 2002 its on the back of the motor underneath the intake manifold; right above the downpipe coming off the manifold/header (I forget if it has a header or a manifold)