Burning smell after drives
05-06-2007, 12:33 AM
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Burning smell after drives
Ever since I have owned my 99 996 c2, I smell like a burning rubber smell from the rear. This occurs EVERY time after I drive it. The car drives fine and have no evidence of oil or any fluid leaks. I cannot see any portion of my tires rubbing. Anyone know what this smell could be?
05-06-2007, 01:57 AM
#3
Three Wheelin'
I had the same exact problem a while back and I posted the same question. It was my alignment on the rear tires (I thought it was my lead foot). A local tire shop jacked my car up improperly and caused $1500 in damage to my suspension. Once it was fixed, the smell was gone.
05-06-2007, 05:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Mfletch
I had the same exact problem a while back and I posted the same question. It was my alignment on the rear tires (I thought it was my lead foot). A local tire shop jacked my car up improperly and caused $1500 in damage to my suspension. Once it was fixed, the smell was gone.
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05-06-2007, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by wrljet
Rubber wearing off the tires gets on the exhaust behind them. "Normal" with our cars, just like routine RMS replacement.
05-06-2007, 02:06 PM
#12
Three Wheelin'
If you have not polished the underside of your 996, the smell you have is from the Cosmoline outgassing. It is perfectly normal for an average 996 that has not had the Cosmoline removed.
Cosmoline is a wax based corrosion protectorant that is sprayed on the engine (including the headers) and transmission at the factory to minimize salt corrosion during shipment. It is usually not on european cars.
It can be removed with a pressure washer and either mineral spirits or specialty solvents from Wurth and others.
The longer it is on the car, the more it hardens and the more difficult it is to remove.
If your car is driven in areas that is close to the coast or in snowy areas, it is best to leave it on the car.
Cosmoline is a wax based corrosion protectorant that is sprayed on the engine (including the headers) and transmission at the factory to minimize salt corrosion during shipment. It is usually not on european cars.
It can be removed with a pressure washer and either mineral spirits or specialty solvents from Wurth and others.
The longer it is on the car, the more it hardens and the more difficult it is to remove.
If your car is driven in areas that is close to the coast or in snowy areas, it is best to leave it on the car.
05-06-2007, 02:21 PM
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Originally Posted by wrljet
Rubber wearing off the tires gets on the exhaust behind them.
As other has said, an oil-rubber-engine smell is normal on the back of a 996 especially after hard driving. It can be surprisingly strong sometimes. It just one of the characteristics of a Porsche that become endearing after a while.
05-06-2007, 02:40 PM
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Thanks for all the response guys. I dont mind if my car have the burning smell after hard driving but even driving lightly, I still have the burning smell.
The cosmoline makes sense but does it smell that bad?
The cosmoline makes sense but does it smell that bad?
05-06-2007, 05:28 PM
#15
Three Wheelin'
Blinkwatt, it was the lower "control arms" in back...they jacked the car up off them. I don't think they are called control arms. They are about 18 inches long and they are the primary adjustment for rear wheel alignment.
I thought the rubber smell was normal....it was severe...it smelled like my tires were on fire, even after the rare gentile drive (which only happens when my 80 year old dad is in the car). It was not normal. I destroyed a set of rear tires in about 200 miles (they had 50% tread when I bought them with a set of wheels).
I figured out that I had a major problem when I drove it in the rain and the tail started wagging at anything over 10 mph. I was lucky, my insurance covered the damage to the suspension.
I thought the rubber smell was normal....it was severe...it smelled like my tires were on fire, even after the rare gentile drive (which only happens when my 80 year old dad is in the car). It was not normal. I destroyed a set of rear tires in about 200 miles (they had 50% tread when I bought them with a set of wheels).
I figured out that I had a major problem when I drove it in the rain and the tail started wagging at anything over 10 mph. I was lucky, my insurance covered the damage to the suspension.