Why is Your Audi Smells Like Burning Oil Smell?

Burning smells from car are many times, the signs of some serious issues in the car. Most of the burning smells are the result of lack of maintenance and care. Burning smell from the vehicles is of various types, it can be a burning smell of plastic, burning smell of rubber, burning smell of oil, etc. In this article, I’m gonna discuss about the burning smell of oil in Audi cars. Even cars like Audi get such disturbing smell. In such cases, while travelling, instead of having a luxury feeling, you get your mind disturbed. So here you will know what causes burning smell of oil and how to get rid of it.

What causes your Audi to smell like that of burning oil?

The burning oil smell from cars are generally caused due to oil leakage and bad oil in the engine. The leakage happens due to various reasons. Here are some causes.

Damaged cam chain tensioner seals

Is seal is one of the common cause of oil leakage internally. If is located at the backside of the cylinder head. After the oil leaks from the damaged seal, it drips on the downpipe. So the oil burning smell is produced.

Worn valve cover gaskets

The valve cover gaskets may wear off and allow the oil to escape from it. The oil then falls on the exhaust manifold where it gets heated and produce a burning oil smell, it can also leak to the combustion chamber and burn with the fuel to produce the burning smell. The leaks occur mostly at the outer edge of valve cover where seal is present.

Camshaft seals damage

The oil may leak to the front side of the engine if the camshaft seal get damaged and leaks out oil. The oil trails between the timing belt backing cover and the cylinder head, then it goes to the beneath of oil pan. Leaking from the cam seal can make it easier from the drivers to point out the oil leakage.

Wearing of crankshaft seals

The oil leakage can also happen at the front and the rear crankshaft seals. These seals can wear when the crankcase breather hose get clogged, due to which the pressure in the system increases. The front and the rear crankshaft seals get damaged by the pressure and cause leakage of engine oil. Here the oil trail is fount at the front and the sides of oil pan. If the oil drips from the bottom of bell housing area then know that crankshaft seal is leaking oil.

Bad oil

If the oil is not changed for long, then the oil will be exhausted and its quality becomes bad. Such oil consist of many dirt and debris from the engine parts. Such contaminated oil cannot lubricate the engine parts, instead, it damages the engine parts. While running, the engine would generate lot of heat due to friction and overheats. This overheating engine starts to burn the oil inside it to produce burning oil smell with a lot of smoke.

Clogged oil filter

A clogged oil filter may not allow the proper oil amount of oil flow from it. By trapping the impurities, the oil filter gets clogged. This can lead to various oil problems and oil leakage.

Conclusion

Lack of engine maintenance can lead to oil loss with decreased performance too. The engine oil is very much vital for the engine and need change in every 7500 miles. The engine maintenance includes the oil change which is to be done without delay. Better to refer your user manual of Audi to get an idea of oil change internals for your model. Also note that you have to always use the oil that is recommended by the manufacturer. Wrong type of oil can damage the engine severely.

Das European Autohaus is the Houston's leading European Auto Specialists. For years, it has been servicing vehicles from the Spring, Houston, Woodland, Cypress and Tomball, Texas areas. They always strive to provide their customer with quality repair