Hi all my03 wrx has not to long ago (1600) miles had a new bottom end I've also fitted the usuall upgrades such as vf35 injectors fuel pump decat uppipe sti tmic, when the engine was out I also decided on a new clutch and fly wheel, the problem is after carfully running it in as advised for 1500 miles I've can now give it some beans and when I do there is a strange smell from the engine bay, I thought it was the brakes to start with but ruled that out, does any one have any ideas and should I be worried

 

I can give you a list, but the first question is have you have the car mapped for the VF35 and other mods ?

 

The car has been mapped for all the mods, the lot got done at the same time, then went back for a tweek after 1500 miles, any sugestions

 

Dumb question - but what sort of smell!!?? If you're running synthetic oil then it smells most odd, and unpleasant, when it burns, so perhaps you have a slight oil leak on to the exhaust?

Or, have you got a catch can and maybe you're smelling that?

Brakes and clutch have a very distinctive smell, so you'd probably know if it was that.

 

It is running Millars fully synthetic but there is no visable leak on the ground, where should I be looking for the leak in the engine bay, also it's only smells when I rev hi other than this the car is running fine pulls well engine sound good(quiet) idles fine

 

One question that I suppose is worth asking is whether the car was tuned by a reputable mapper (someone well known here?) or not?

The other obvious odour that you might find under your bonnet is evaporating coolant. Have you checked the levels in the system at all?

 

A very small amount of oil on the exhaust can create a lot of smell...but also usually smoke. I'm assuming you can't see any smoke?

If it is an oil leak, then cam cover gaskets are a favourite, or it could be a weeping camshaft or crankshaft oil seal (in which case look for oil coming out of the pulley covers).

Or I guess it could be a breather pipe that's not connected properly?

 

It might just be a little decat wiff?

 

What, pray tell, is "decat wiff"?

Catalytic converters are known for causing a bit of a pong if you boot it, but what smell exactly does a decat make? New one on me.

 

Guess it depends what a de cat's been eatin'?

I'll get my coat....

 

Fixed.

 

 

loool true stories difficult to describe the smell

 

Checked the oil and water both fine looking for oil but none visable I'll look again