hi, can anyone give me a bit of advice on what could be causing a burning smell coming from the driver side of engine bay, i get the smell as soon as the car reaches its normal operating temperature when i stop in traffic or lights, if this makes any sense it smells like a really hot smell, car is a 97 wrx,
thanks

 

Is it an oil burning smell, if so check your rocker cover gasket on that side of the engine, you may also see some smoke.

 

there is also the problem of inner driveshaft gaiters leaking a little grease onto the manifold....and the power steering resevoir cap leaking a little..had both of these probs in the past...

 

best get up on some ramps etc ,
remove cover & check every where especially around manifolds if its burning smell.

you may not see much off a leak if it is dropping on to manifold etc etc.

 

i have this fault but the engine had a little too much oil in and it was coming from the rocker covers now i have took some oil out its ok (just below full mark) but when i hammer it sometimes it comes out i think i need new gaskets you may see oil on the exhaust cover underside dvrs and it has a little hole and sometimes leakes/drips from here if you have a leak.....but to add to this help from anyone when i asked a garage about this they said it is poss that the covers could also warp? thus a slight leak.

 

thanks lads , ill try get it looked at asap, cheers

 

this may sound silly but does it smell like plastic burning cause i had this only to find a bag had stuck to my exhaust

 

no mate the smell came shortly after i put a second hand downpipe on , getting a stong smell of petrol too, but the burning smell is like a very hot smell if that makes any sense, thanks,