New owner with a question

While I was originally in the market for a Boxster (to replace one that I should have never given up as a lease return a few years ago), I recently found a CPO'ed 2004 40th Anniversary 911 with about 12k miles at a local dealer and just couldn't pass it up. As a result, I'm the proud new owner of car no. 721 of 1963. (Pictures to come.) So far, I couldn't be happier. While I absolutely loved my Boxster, this car seems to take everything that was great about the Boxster and make it a little better. Being in San Diego, I do occasionally wish I could drop the top, but one quick punch on the throttle usually cures me of that pretty quickly. Anyway, one question for all of you that know the 996 significantly better than I do. Everytime I exit my car I notice what seems like a burning smell coming from the rear of the car. This happens basically without exception, whether I've been babying the car for my 1.5 mile commute to work or engaging in some spirited driving. Normally, I'd be fairly worried about this sort of thing, but: (1) I'm new to the model; (2) I remember my Boxster having some of its own peculiar chacteristics that bothered me until I found out they were both typical and harmless; and, most importantly, (3) the car was CPO'ed. As a result, I'm reluctant to go back to the dealer with what might well be a very stupid question. Can anyone weigh in?

I'd be inclined to say the smell is normal. Mine always smells a little after I drive it. You bought it from a dealer and if they're not too far away, it wouldn't hurt to run it by and see what they say though.

sounds normal to me. mine smells a little like burnt rubber/ oil after i drive it.

Thanks, guys. That's the exact smell I'm getting, Scott. Again, especially since the car had to go through the CPO process, I was pretty sure it was nothing. Glad to hear that's likely the case.

Most of the time the smell is normal. The engine compartment and engine tend to run hotter than a front-engine'd car and a lot of hot exhaust pipes are crammed under the rear of the car. Also, because the engine's at the rear, it tends to see quite a bit of dirt/dust and road trash. It is not unknown for a piece of paper or plastic wrap (even a plastic grocery bag) to get kicked up and land on a hot exhaust pipe and you'll smell this when you stop the car, if any residue of the plastic remains. However, you should still check the car for any signs of fluid leaks. Because the exhaust pipes are below the engine it is almost a certainty that an oil leak will see some if not all the oil drip on an exhaust pipe. If enough oil hits the hot exhaust pipe the oil will vaporize and you might not see any oil on the ground. (You will see, if you look sharp enough, a spot of discoloration on the exhaust pipe where the oil or other fluid hits it. And the discoloration won't necessary be black and looking like oil was burned at the spot, but instead the spot can be lighter in color than the surrounding areas.) If so, then you'll really get a strong odor of hot oil and depending upon the condtion of the oil it may smell like something's burning. (Not a Porsche, but in real bad oil leaks I've seen so much oil drop from a leaking valve cover onto a hot exhaust manifold the oil vapor (looks like oil smoke) seeps around and through the hood gaps and the engine compartment looks like there's a fire under the hood.) But if you check the car out and see no signs of any leaks and vitial fluid levels remain stable and there are no starting/drivability problems, then the smell is almost certainly harmless. Sincerely, Macster.

WELCOME and CONGRATS On the new 996!! I had 2 Boxsters and LOVED them. I agree, the Boxster S was great, but the 996 just does it better.

do a search on Cosmoline - that is likely your answer

Seo - Welcome and Congrats on getting your 996! Spiderv6 mentioned above ^ it is most likely the Cosmoline that Porsche puts on the lower part of the engine as a protectant. My '04 C2 stopped having that smell at about 20K miles.

105,000 and it still smells everytime I shut it off.

... I've always noticed the same thing, but it never bothered me enough to follow-up on it. I've just naturally thought of my car as being smelly.