I have a 02 A4 1.8T Manual Quattro with 85km. Sometimes I get this burning smell inside the car and I can't seem to pinpoint it.

Today i drove to work it was -10 outside and after my 20min drive when I stopped in the parking lot I could smell this burning smell. Not the smell when electronics fry thank god, but more like burning oil or plastic burning or something like that. Almost as though the exhaust (or something hot) is touching something else causing that smell to get sucked into the passanger compartment with the heater fan.

I also get that smell once in a while at other times. It doesn't seem to do it so much when it's warmer out, maybe only because the fan and heat is not running so much, who knows.

Anybody else experience this and find a solution? I did a search but didn't really come up with anything maybe because I dont know what to search for. I did "burning smell" but nothing was found.

Regards,

 

I replaced the cabin filter and it fixed it for me Try there! sometime that thing acumulates so many different things and the smell ends up geting through the vents, try turning the ac down to really cold and run it see if to comes back? I would replace the filter its one of those odd things

 

Also check the rubber seal at the back of the engine bay as it may have come loose and is allowing engine bay gases into the are where the fresh air filter is.

 

leaking valve cover gasket? They tend to leak around the back near the firewall, and the oil drips onto the exhaust manifold or cat.

 

That is what my money is on. Valve covers or cam gaskets, its a problem on these cars at times, replacement parts aren't expensive, just the labour to get back there is what sucks the cash.

Check on audiworld, i believe there is a DIY there if that is actually it. You should be able to tell just by looking/feeling around in the area.

 

Ok no problem I'll have a look. I'll be able to fix it myself, I have built a few motors and done motor swaps, tranny, clutch replacement, rear main seal etc a number of times so labor is no prob. I figured it was something easy however I didn't really feel like looking too hard in the cold. I'll just grin and bear it for now. Doing a valve cover gasket or cam seals is no big deal. I'll have to see how much oil is runnin down the back or if that is really what it is.

When I have some answers I'll post back. I was just afraid it was something else electrical these cars are "known" for or something like that going haywire on me.

 

Valve cover gasket usually goes for a reason, which is that the PCV system is shot, causing high pressure at the valve cover. So if you do have a leaky gasket, swap out the breather and PCV valves when you change the gasket. Otherwise it'll just go again.

 

^hmmm good point...

 

rust proofed? that's when i get that smell....

 

^ maybe after oil changes when there is a bit of oil that escaped?