MadeInJapan Posted January 1, 2006 Report Share Posted January 1, 2006 So, this weekend the PCV system was replace on my '98 S70...all the rubber hoses, etc. by my trusty mechanic and he only charged me $120 for many hours of tedious labor. The fuel rail and injectors were removed and intake manifold as well to swap out the clogged hoses and oil trap. All is good now with good breathing by the engine and it is running better than ever with good torque and boost. Only thing is that when I pull into the garage even after a short run, there is a peculiar odor. I thought it was a burning oil or even a slight fuel smell...no oil leaks anywhere that I was able to check. My wife says it smells like burning rubber. The smell doesn't last long but it is annoying and a concern. I should add that when the mechanic took the cover off of the spark plug cover there was oil under there...just enough to be concerned, but not bad. I haven't checked there, but I would think that replacing all of these things would have solved that problem if it was there before. I think this was oil from a bad sump cover gasket that was changed several months ago, but not sure. Anyway, I'd like to ask if this smell is normal after a PCV system (hoses) replacement? Could it just be new hoses (rubber) that are heating up and giving off this odor and thus the odor will stay for a few more days until the new hoses are "acclamated" to their new environment, or should I be more concerned, like fuel injector bushings since the injectors were pulled out and put back in, or could it be something else?? Any help with this would be truly helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWinkey Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I wouldn't sweat it, usually when I do work as such I try and drive the car for 10 miles or so to burn off the slovents cleaners etc. that I used when cleaning up and re-assembling ...probably normal but if it bothers you call your mechanic as you stated you trust him/her(this is 2006 )..and let them know your concerns they did the work so you should ask them not us ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInJapan Posted January 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I wouldn't sweat it, usually when I do work as such I try and drive the car for 10 miles or so to burn off the slovents cleaners etc. that I used when cleaning up and re-assembling ...probably normal but if it bothers you call your mechanic as you stated you trust him/her(this is 2006 )..and let them know your concerns they did the work so you should ask them not us Thanks MrWinkey...great advice. I'll keep driving it this week and see how it goes. If the smell is still there in a few days then I'll give him a call. I didn't think of "solvent" etc. in putting the car back together. However, I've driven it 50 miles twice in 2 days, all in one whack and still the smell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM2U Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I wouldn't sweat it, usually when I do work as such I try and drive the car for 10 miles or so to burn off the slovents cleaners etc. that I used when cleaning up and re-assembling ...probably normal but if it bothers you call your mechanic as you stated you trust him/her(this is 2006 )..and let them know your concerns they did the work so you should ask them not us I agree that ultumately he should check with the mechanic that did the work. I do think that we professionals can play a part in a situation like this where the fuel system has been opened and oil leaks observed. It could be just simple contamination of the exhaust manifoold or pipe from greasy hands that hasn't gotten hot enough because of wet weather to burn off. It could be a piece of old hose or rubber part has fallen down around the exhaust manifold and should be removed. It could be an oil or more importantly a gas leak that warrants the car being towed rather than driven back to the mechanic. Putting cardboard or newspapers under the engine can easily show if there is a leak which may be seen before the car has gotten up to operating temp or for that matter taken out of the garage. It ceratinly wouldn't be the first time when a mechanic is getting behind with a job taking longer and overlooks tightning clamps or bolts. Some car owners need to have their hands held and I don't mean that in an insulting manner when we can steer them in proper direction because we have the professional experience. They can be given information so they don't loose sleep at night or wonder if they should change their insurance policy deductable to include house fires. The fact he is willing to pay others to do what we take for granted suggests he's not comfortable and a little extra info won't hurt in giving him peace of mind. Cheers, GTM2U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInJapan Posted January 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 GTM2U, Thanks for your reply...I re-read it several times. My mechanic is closed until Tuesday so I'll check with him then. I have a pretty good working knowlege of this car and what needed to be done but scared that dealing with the fuel rail, and injectors was a bit much for me and didn't want to get in over my head on my own. So, I left it with someone with much more experience. I'm just stummped because everything that was put back together seems very tight. I've driven the car for maybe 150 miles now since the work was done....no wet weather here, and on the interstate, nearing 80MPH each time for 40 minutes or more without slowing, so I'm sure things have gotten hot enough. I'm beginning to think that an old hose is either touching the exhaust manifold or taking the injectors out and putting them back in has disturbed the rubber gaskets around them, or one or more of them is not sound,....hard to say, but I will call my mechanic. Once again, thanks for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTM2U Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 GTM2U, Thanks for your reply...I re-read it several times. My mechanic is closed until Tuesday so I'll check with him then. I have a pretty good working knowlege of this car and what needed to be done but scared that dealing with the fuel rail, and injectors was a bit much for me and didn't want to get in over my head on my own. ... I'm just stummped because everything that was put back together seems very tight. I've driven the car for maybe 150 miles now since the work was done....no wet weather here, and on the interstate, nearing 80MPH each time for 40 minutes or more without slowing, so I'm sure things have gotten hot enough. I'm beginning to think that an old hose is either touching the exhaust manifold or taking the injectors out and putting them back in has disturbed the rubber gaskets around them, or one or more of them is not sound,....hard to say, but I will call my mechanic. Once again, thanks for your reply. You are welcome. I figured the extra holiday might be a factor. Yes certainly the 150 miles under those conditions should have burned off small pieces. I can't see having pulled the injectors and replacing the seals would cause this for they run fairly cool. However one of the old ones could be resting somewhere on the exhaust and cooking away. You might be better off looking after dark with a small flashlight so you don't get a lot of light scatter blinding you. Also if there are heat shields pieces could have fallen in between them and the exhaust so don't rule them out. .................. Depending on the car the fuel rails and injector seals can be a simple job but you can get sand collecting around them which can fall into the intake right at the valves. The fact you have reported it's running better than ever suggests the seal were changed and everything cleaned. I've had this sort of thing with customers who suddenly developed noses they never had only to find out the trunk seal was leaking and exhaust was coming in through this leak. Some people start imagining things that were there all along but suddenly notice them when they have spent money. I'm not saying this is you or your wife, more at an antidote and the woes we mechanics have to face every day. More than likely there is not enough to cause a fire and in all probability is not combustable but it sure can be an annoyance. Cheers, GTM2U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadeInJapan Posted January 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 GTM2U, I got concerned enough that I took off the spark plug cover and low and behold, guess what I found? There was oil under there. The gasket on the cap was replaced just a couple of months ago so that couldn't be it...looked around and the rubber hose that comes up from the oil trap has a HUGE clamp on it and I was able to slide it off without loosening it. I've cleaned up the area and put an appropriate size clamp on the hose and sinched it down really good. I can't pull it off with force even, so I'm hoping that this was the culprit and will drive without the cover on tomorrow and keep an eye on the top of the engine. With the plug cover on, this part was out of sight...some shoddy work by my mechanic's tech who was given the task of "tightening" up everything after my mechanic did the replacement....he'll be hearing about this for sure. Anyway, thanks again for posting. By the way, do you know what the diameter of the brake booster hose is that runs from the bottom of the vacuum tower under the cool air hose over to and under the air box is? This is rotting and needs replacing...last thing I hope I'll have to do before I put in an upgraded ECU in my T5! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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