Present mileage on car is 35,000. For the past year or so I have had my car back to the dealer to solve the oil fume smell present inside the car. It especially noticable after the car has been driven to a place, sits for a small period of time and you get back in the car and it smells of oil. I also took the time to clean the interior of any vinyl and leather dressing that could outgass.

In the process, the following items have been replaced. (All under warranty)

1. At about 16 250 miles the breather box seals were leaking and were replaced. Smell problem not solved.

2. At 24,000, the turbo return pipe seals were leaking and were replaced. Smell problem not solved.

3. At 26,550, the coolant expansion tank had a small leak, The tank was replaced. I also noted the dealer found the turbo cooler plumbing crush washers were leaking and were replaced. Smell problem not solved.

4. At 33,200, the dealer found oil leaking from the left axle seal on transmission ; left axle seal replaced. Also coolant leaking from right bottom coolant line on turbo. Replaced screw and washer.

After item #4 above was completed, I assumed that these were the main cause of the smell. Not so. I brought the car back to the dealer a week later and while I was present for the reinspection along with the service manager and his head mechanic, no leakage of any kind was noted or found. At this point I am ready to go to another dealer for an alternate opinion, etc. If the cause of the "oil fume" smell is not corrected, I will plan on selling the car.

Has anyone had this problem, and what was done to correct it.

 

Does the Dipstick sit tight in the tube? (Oil)

 

Wow I personally don't know what to say...........I would def put my foot down with the dealer at that point and if no better results trade in/sell it for another S80.

 

Both the oil and auto transmission dipsticks fit snug. Also, the "0" rings on both dipsticks look good.

 

Is the upper torque mount in good shape?

 

Tech is the torque mount that thing on top of the engine that holds it to the fire wall??? I'm the one that's been having problems w/ oil leaking in the engine and I think it's comming from that area. Is there a seal there or any possible way oil can come from here?

 

Not that I am aware of.

I asked about the mount on his car. They are known to fall apart and drop pieces of rubber on the turbo's/Exhaust. Causing the smell.

 

damn... gotta keep trying to figure out where the damn oil is comming from. How many quarts or oil does this car hold?

 

About 6 to 6.5 Quarts.

 

The upper torque mount is in good shape. There is no evidence of damage to the rubber.

 

It must be weaping from somewhere and hitting the exhaust or one of the Vent box hoses are off and Crank case pressure is leaking out.

 

Not sure if this relevant to your problem but thought i would explain my situation...

Last Friday..
My 2001 T6 went for its 90,000 mile service, after which ithe engine smelled of burning oil or coolant (bad smell).
It was perfect before the service (which cost me $900).
I forced the dealership to investigate, and refused to accept the car due to the smell.
They returned it the next day, claiming thet had found no problems. The car still smelled so again I demanded they fix it. The smell only occured after the service!
The service dept tells me that there is a coolant leak.
2 days later, they advised me they have pressure tested the entire coolant system, and have cleaned the entire engine. They suspect that coolant was spilt during the service(not a leak), and the cleaning will stop the smell.
Oh, incidently its a 200+ mile trip to the dealership so my car has gained many miles back and forth!
I should get the car back tomorrow, and I will let you know if it still smells.
Should I be asking / demanding compensation? Or something? What do you think?

Bob

 

IS IT POSSABLE THIS IS A COOLANT SMELL?
IF SO HAS THE HEATER CORE BEEN CHECKED?

 

Carpet wet on either side of the car? You may want to leave your car for a few days and have a technician drive it home to see if he notices the same thing.

 

What about the turbo seals? My 2.7T A6 developed a fairly strong oil burning smell around the 60k mark. The dealer gave me the run around for over a month and about 6 trips it wasn't until I changed the oil the next time that I saw a minisquel bit of oil residue on the turbo housings. Took it to my buddy who has a tuning shop in Utah and he lauged at me when I explained it to him he put the car on the post lift and ran it up to about 4k so the turbos spooled up for about 2 min sure enough there was a bit of weeping comming from the LH turbo, just enough that it would run down on to the exhaust and boil off. He rebuilt the turbos for me and I never had any problem with the system, I sold the car 2 years later. Might check out the turbos, it cost me $250 bucks to have the turbos rebuilt but it could have been alot more if the turbos would have fragged out.

 

Well the dealship has kept my T6 until Monday. I'll let you know how it turns out.

They gave me an 02 XC70 AWD while its being fixed. Going to take it out and text the AWD tomorrow. Though all my friends hate it, I quite like the design. love the rear seats.

Bob