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burning smells, normal?

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YOUR RESEARCHburning smells, normal?

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POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

I just got my first Porsche and am trying to determine what's normal. It's an 02 Cab. After driving the car, it has a faint burning smell around the engine comparment. Just a hint of burn smell. Is this normal?

POST 2Original post

In general a "hot" or burning smell from the rear of the car is normal, especially if you have dedicated snow tires on and/or just got done with some spirited driving. However, if the odor has the smell of burning oil and/or the sweet smell of antifreeze you should have checked out.

POST 3Original post

mine smells bad. does not even have to be fast driving...did a search and there was a lot of talk about cosmoline spray on the underside of the car. mine is an 03 with 24k. how long does it last?

POST 4Original post

My 02 C4S does the same thing... Defiantly after "spirited driving"

POST 5Original post

My 2001 C4 smells the same too. It has 11,000 miles on it now. I can see the dark cosmoline on the underside, and it even looks like some of it is dripping off... well forming crubmly looking drips that powder into dust when you touch them.

POST 6Original post

My '99 C4 with 90k has a smell also so it does not go away any time soon. The boxster with 32k has not had it since the begining (first few months). I like the smell

POST 7 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

thanks for the responses. It doesn't smell like oil. It kind of smells like a new car break-in smell. It's got 21,000 miles

POST 8Original post

Definitely has that new car break-in smell, except it never seems to go away.

POST 9Original post

When the new car break-in smell goes away, that means your warranty has expired!

POST 11Original post

My 00 has 80k on it and it still has the smell of a hotrod, especially after some mountain climbing....smells mostly like burned rubber.....I love that car..............

POST 12Original post

Mine smells the same. Glad to know it isn't just my Pcar...

POST 13Original post

"faint" and "hint" of a burning odor, as you mentioned, is completely normal based on my talks with dealers and other owners during my search for a car. I noticed it on every car I drove, as I would usually drive each car with a little aggressiveness and then open the engine compartment to see if anything was going on. Keep an eye on your oil level, just in case, but sounds like you should be fine.

POST 14Original post

Interestingly, I have come to appreciate the odor. As BlackCab mentioned, you do want to pay attention to fluid levels and make sure that you are not burning oil, but in general, the 'burning' smell is pretty natural. Frankly, it reminds me of driving hard.

POST 15Original post

Yea as everyone states, this is a normal thing for our Porsches. If you ever put snow tires on then you will be amazed how much more you smell it, truth be told I kinda like it, to me its an How hard did i drive meter!

POST 16Original post

Why are you crawling around smelling the rear end or the car? That, if something, does not appear to be normal.

POST 18Original post

it still freaks me out a little everytime ...the smell is a little alarming....burned rubber like, but if it is it normal.....then I love it.

POST 19Original post

i hate it....it is not very cabriolet friendly...i have had a person in a 500sl asking my wife if it is her that smells or his while standing at a traffic light

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