Burning rubber smell!?!?
06-02-2010, 07:03 PM
#32
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Thread Starter
Sorry for being a dick and not following up my own thread. I'm about 5K beyond original purchase miles and the smell has lessened markedly. I think it was the stuff that the dealer used to make the engine look pretty from the detail shop. Now I just get that old familiar Porsche smell after driving (I've had 6 911's and they all had this odor, just not the distinct rubber burn smell I originally complained about). All is right with the world (except my CEL...)
10-21-2010, 01:02 PM
#34
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I'm so glad I found this thread. I have a 996 but since I got it a month ago, I have noticed this faint burning rubber smell when I get out of the car. It seems to come from the wheels area so I first thought it was because they had brand new tires, but I wasn't sure. I had an extensive PPI and an alignment from an indy shop and neither of them said anything about the smell, so I thought it could just be a normal Porsche thing (this is my first). Glad to hear that I'm not the only one, I'm not going to worry about it anymore.
10-21-2010, 01:40 PM
#35
I would immediately suspect the single serpentine belt. To check take a feel with your finger on the come along rollers that you can easily access near the oil filler pipe. If you feel that the come alongs are not flat and smooth across the entire width of the pulley, I would suspect that the tensioner is too tight. They are not adjustable. You may experience premature serpentine belt failure on the road. Carry a spare belt, a standard screwdriver, and a 24mm combination wrench. With just those 2 tools you can install a new belt easily enough. Without it, you are subject to the whim of 1800 PORSCHE. In the second photo the YELLOW marked pulleys are come-alongs. They seem to exhibit wear beneath the belt track, and not along the edges (as the pulleys are wider than the width of the belt). That suggests to me that the belt is too tight. It is quite routine now for Porsche to replace not just the belt, but the idler pulleys as well in a belt service.
10-02-2022, 11:07 AM
#36
Instructor
Huh. Finally built a garage this summer so the car wouldn't have to stay outside. At first I would keep the garage windows opened because it got very warm but now that it's getting colder outside, I keep them closed most of the time.
Since then, there's that odd smell. It doesn't smell like gas, coolant or oil. More rubber-like? It's no longer noticeable within a minute or two and like I said, it goes away if the windows are opened. It doesn't get worse with time, it always smells the same.
Seems to be coming from the rear of the engine and there doesn't seem to be any leaks.
Could this just be the "normal smell" you're referring to?
Last edited by LucV; 10-02-2022 at 11:54 AM.
10-02-2022, 11:40 AM
#37
That's the 997 smell. Some say it's cosomoline undercoating, or some other source, but they all smell like that after being shut down. Not to worry.
10-03-2022, 10:36 AM
#38
Rennlist Member
Mine does too and it could be any combination of things, maybe coming from the converter. Nothing to worry about.
05-07-2023, 01:05 PM
#39
Glad I found this old thread as my car has that burnt rubber smell as well. It's faint enough not to be scary and never really changes so I started thinking EGR/Purge valves, etc but the car is running perfectly fine. As it may be bits of rubber and tar coming off the tires/road and onto the mufflers...maybe I should just remove the mufflers! 
05-08-2023, 03:23 AM
#40
Instructor
Glad I found this old thread as my car has that burnt rubber smell as well. It's faint enough not to be scary and never really changes so I started thinking EGR/Purge valves, etc but the car is running perfectly fine. As it may be bits of rubber and tar coming off the tires/road and onto the mufflers...maybe I should just remove the mufflers!
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Rig.Stunts (05-08-2023)
07-05-2023, 11:47 AM
#41
Rennlist Member
07-05-2023, 12:40 PM
#42
Rennlist Member
Happens every time I take my 997.2 S out for a run (~42k miles). I was alarmed the first time I smelled it, but one of my Porsche buddies just laughed and said “that’s the Porsche smell!”
It’s just normal to me now. I like the theory that it’s just rubber deposits on the exhaust.
It’s just normal to me now. I like the theory that it’s just rubber deposits on the exhaust.
