Occasional burning oil smell replaced by burning rubber smell

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Feb 17, 2007 | 08:53 PM

Mr. Z

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Occasional burning oil smell replaced by burning rubber smell

OK... I know I have a small oil leak that is getting a bit bigger each month. It is usually only noticeable when I rev the engine and/or take it out on the highway. Now, however, I am getting a burning RUBBER smell that overwhelms any oil smell -- and the smell is there every time I pull into the garage. It smells a bit like a belt that has hung up and is rubbing wrong.

The only thing that has been done to the car lately has been a coolant pipe replacement & a coolant flush/replacement when they accidentally put in green instead of red coolant.

I'm trying to drive the car as little as possible until then. It is my only set of wheels & I'm in a rural area. Besides the smell, I have NO other problem indiciations (e.g. CEL, belt noise, etc.).

I've got a Thursday appointment for the local Audi dealer to take a look at the oil leak & the vibration I've mentioned before.

In the meantime, any thoughts on the burning rubber smell?

Feb 17, 2007 | 10:18 PM

Always Overcharged

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Breather hoses???

Feb 18, 2007 | 12:51 AM

Mr. Z

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Please explain... Something the shop misrouted when they fixed coolant pipe?

Feb 18, 2007 | 01:13 AM

Always Overcharged

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Paul's excellent Audipages has the info-There are three breather hoses

at the rear of the engine and one at the front that runs betweeen the heads. These rot and leak oil and when bad molten rubber onto the heads causing the smell.
This repair is sentimental as it was my first on the A8 and I believe it is the reason the previous owner sold the car.I dont think he knew what was causing the burning smell and feared an expensive fix.<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/breatherhose.html">http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/enginemechanical/breatherhose.html</a</li></ul>

Feb 18, 2007 | 11:26 AM

Mr. Z

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Thanks! I'll look into it. Could these have been shifted or messed with when...

the shop was replacing the coolant pipe on my engine? It just seems that every time I go in there, some new problem starts (and grows). Not saying they're doing anything deliberately (it is way too small and closed of a community), but I could see their guys either not being careful or not knowing as much as they think they do.

Feb 18, 2007 | 12:08 PM

Always Overcharged

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possible but were probably rotten already

Feb 18, 2007 | 12:30 PM

Mr. Z

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Wouldn't be the first time they've pushed a borderline problem...

over the edge. It happened with my dad's van.

While I could understand the burning oil smell -- or even an increased smell -- it would seem that the hoses would not have been MELTING unless they'd shifted them or jockeyed with them too hard. The rubber smell came EXACTLY after I got the car back for the coolant pipe.

Are the hoses clearly visible if I simply take off the engine covers?