I've got a '95 WRX which i have owned for about 3 years now and recently i have started to get an oily smell coming from somewhere. I thought it might have been oil coming out of the front diff dispstick onto the turbo so i tightened up the clips at the top of the dipstick but it is still doing it. Any ideas???

Oh yes its now a wifey car so i don't do much on it anymore. Ive just remebered it needs a new air filter. Its done about 35000 miles on the one that is in. Change the oil every 3000 still though.

 

Paul,

it could be a slow leak on the off side rocker cover dripping down onto the exhaust manifold, it will occasionally smell a bit and give out a little puff of smoke if this is the case. Get it checked out at a garage... mine caught fire! (long story).

Cheers,

Pat.

 

Could be a leak from the power steering fluid reservoir. This can drip onto the engine block then run down the front onto the exhaust and burn off.

 

I also have a 95 WRX which had the same problem. Turned out to be a leaking front crankshaft oil seal. You can tell if its this by crawling underneath and checking for oil around the seal on the plastic timing belt cover, just in front of the oil filter housing. This being the lowest point.check for drops of oil on the ground as well.

The oil gets blown back onto the engine and cat.hence the smell. mines repaired but still stinks as the oil gradually gets burned off the heatshields.

 

Thaks lads i will check it out tomorrow, I have not had the chance to log on for a couple of days.