8 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHOil smell, I'm stumped
Reported or suspected cause
leaking "oil return tube"
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Reported cause
Mine turned out to be a leaking "oil return tube".
Leading evidence: 'leaking "oil return tube"' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'leaking "oil return tube"' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check any residue' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had my oil return tubes replaced due to leaking during my 60,000 mile service a week ago.
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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
You may want to check for any residue on the headers.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
8 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261027T154520Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Every time I park the car in the garage after a drive I smell oil. I can only describe it as oil that's leaked onto an exhaust manifold. It doesn't matter if I've driven the car hard or not. I've checked for leaks and found nothing. No drops on the floor anywhere. Yes, I checked that too, no RMS issue thank goodness. The digital oil gauge has only gone down one bar in the past 4500 miles. Before I bring the car into the dealer I was hoping someone might have an idea what the cause is. What do you think? Thanks in advance for your help.
Pat
I assume you've checked that the oil filler cap is snug and the dip stick is tight, no blow-by. Other than that, I'm stumped.
Beautiful car, by the way.
Possibility of a leak.
I had the same experience. No drops visible and after hard drive smell of burnt oil.
Went and had car checked at a dealer and turn out to be a leak. ( I don't recall location, it was fixed under warranty)
I would suggest dealer visit anyway
Path,
I had experienced the same thing in my '99. You may want to check for any residue on the headers. The oil would have burned off but would leave a darkened area where the oil came from. Mine turned out to be a leaking "oil return tube".
I had my oil return tubes replaced due to leaking during my 60,000 mile service a week ago. I saw no sign of leaking either, but after the service, I did notice an accumulation of dirt on the engine where there had been oil. I cleaned it all off and it hasn't returned, so I can only assume that there actually was a leak.
It might be your "oil protection tube" seals that are leaking. These are the six plastic tubes that run from the valve cover to the head and have the spark plugs in them. Each of these tubes has two o-rings, one on each end. It is not uncommon for them to start leaking after a period of time / use / heat cycling. The dealer can remove these tubes and replace the o-rings for you, that should take care of it if they are leaking.
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