I rarely drive my car in temps to require using the heater. When I do, it kinda smells. Maybe the first owned smoked, but vent/AC.. no smell. Any advice on what I can do?

 

That's likely the typical Porsche heat smell ... a whiff of oil from the heat exchangers ... think of it as an expensive cologne.

Vic

 

Chris-

I don't know what yours smells like, but I think what you are smelling is unique to the air cooled engine using the engine heat to warm the cabin. Either that something died in your heater tubes.

I kind of like the way it smells.

 

Don't you know that you pay extra for that "Nuance". That is part of the reason your car holds so much oil, it takes at least five quarts of oil to make that smell!

JK. I rarely use my heat and when I do the smell is somewhat strong. It weakens after a little use.

Enjoy the smell.

 

Probable a bit of oil leak from the cam cover gasket onto the heat-exchanger. If so, not too expensive to sort out.

 

Too bad you don't get to use the heater. It's about the best car heating system made. Without a bunch of water to first heat, my cabin starts to get warm after driving just a block & if turned up it'll melt rubber soles. One of the pluses of air/oil cooling. However, for some the normal smell you describe may be a negative. Personally, I like it - it let's me know my baby is hot.

 

Chris,

All the above are right (even Dan !! Hi buddy !!).

Mine smells a bit when first used, then it goes away. Smells like hot metal and a bit of oil mixed in. The smell could be exacerbated by an oil leak as Mick said, but they all have that smell to some extent. Should go away after a few minutes.

The airplane has the same type of (air to air heat exchanger) heating system and it smells when first used in cold wx. Make the passengers a bit nervous though....

 

I had a strong smell for a number of days after topping up the oil tank and spilling some into the engine bay.

Anyone know where exactly I should target the soap and brush to get rid of the oil? It finally burned off but perhaps for the next time.

... must remember bi-focals.

 

Change the pollen filters...if you aren't sure if the previous owner smoked, you might also not know how long those have been in. An easy DIY.

 

After reading and dreaming about these cars for years before getting mine, a lot of it felt just how I expected it would, but nothing prepared me for the smell. OMG I love the smell of these cars! It just says, "this car is ALL business!" to me.

 

Who needs heat? I blocked off the air tubes so no more fragrance. It still has the classic oil cooled smell in the cabin, though.