Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2021
- Messages
- 2,581
When turning on the heat on our 21 Pilot, I smell what is either engine oil but it also is close to the "new car smell".
Can a new car smell last this long? It's present only when running heat and most noticeable on the floor hvac setting.
I have a suspicion it might be residual engine oil vapors but it's a long shot theory. The second time I changed the oil I had some from the filter run into the subframe via small hole. I realized this smell when I was idling in the summer with the AC on and it smelled like burning engine oil. The exhaust manifold seems to be close enough to the subframe that I might have heated the oil. Next day I power washed the subframe very thoroughly which included directly spraying water into the opening in the subframe for a few minutes. I covered the hole with tape to prevent future oil intrusion.
My concern is that somehow these fumes left some residue in the air ducts which is activated by hot air and becomes noticeable at that time.
Other theory is that these plastic ducts just happen to be smelly when hot and are still off gassing after 2 years and 38k miles. I've changed the cabin air filter 2 times IIRC.
Can a new car smell last this long? It's present only when running heat and most noticeable on the floor hvac setting.
I have a suspicion it might be residual engine oil vapors but it's a long shot theory. The second time I changed the oil I had some from the filter run into the subframe via small hole. I realized this smell when I was idling in the summer with the AC on and it smelled like burning engine oil. The exhaust manifold seems to be close enough to the subframe that I might have heated the oil. Next day I power washed the subframe very thoroughly which included directly spraying water into the opening in the subframe for a few minutes. I covered the hole with tape to prevent future oil intrusion.
My concern is that somehow these fumes left some residue in the air ducts which is activated by hot air and becomes noticeable at that time.
Other theory is that these plastic ducts just happen to be smelly when hot and are still off gassing after 2 years and 38k miles. I've changed the cabin air filter 2 times IIRC.
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