skipp

I just got my first Porsche and am trying to determine what's normal. It's an 02 Cab. After driving the car, it has a faint burning smell around the engine comparment. Just a hint of burn smell. Is this normal?

bet

In general a "hot" or burning smell from the rear of the car is normal, especially if you have dedicated snow tires on and/or just got done with some spirited driving. However, if the odor has the smell of burning oil and/or the sweet smell of antifreeze you should have checked out.

SPIKES

mine smells bad. does not even have to be fast driving...did a search and there was a lot of talk about cosmoline spray on the underside of the car. mine is an 03 with 24k.
how long does it last?

A4Eric

My 02 C4S does the same thing... Defiantly after "spirited driving"

Dr_KarlB

My 2001 C4 smells the same too. It has 11,000 miles on it now.
I can see the dark cosmoline on the underside, and it even looks like some of it is dripping off... well forming crubmly looking drips that powder into dust when you touch them.

an02boxster

My '99 C4 with 90k has a smell also so it does not go away any time soon. The boxster with 32k has not had it since the begining (first few months). I like the smell

skipp

thanks for the responses. It doesn't smell like oil. It kind of smells like a new car break-in smell. It's got 21,000 miles

nycebo

Definitely has that new car break-in smell, except it never seems to go away.

gota911

When the new car break-in smell goes away, that means your warranty has expired!

SPIKES

WHAT....so it stays forever....

Gretch

My 00 has 80k on it and it still has the smell of a hotrod, especially after some mountain climbing....smells mostly like burned rubber.....I love that car..............

kevinrubin

Mine smells the same. Glad to know it isn't just my Pcar...

BlackCab996

"faint" and "hint" of a burning odor, as you mentioned, is completely normal based on my talks with dealers and other owners during my search for a car. I noticed it on every car I drove, as I would usually drive each car with a little aggressiveness and then open the engine compartment to see if anything was going on. Keep an eye on your oil level, just in case, but sounds like you should be fine.

nycebo

Interestingly, I have come to appreciate the odor. As BlackCab mentioned, you do want to pay attention to fluid levels and make sure that you are not burning oil, but in general, the 'burning' smell is pretty natural. Frankly, it reminds me of driving hard.

kilrgt

Yea as everyone states, this is a normal thing for our Porsches. If you ever put snow tires on then you will be amazed how much more you smell it, truth be told I kinda like it, to me its an How hard did i drive meter!