At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.
I have a 2000 VW Passat 30v V6 4motion with 130,000..It smelled badly of oil burning and actually smoked when I first got it. The guy that I bought it from said that oil had leaked/been spilled on the engine and it was still burning off. It's been 6months and I've put 7000 miles on it and it no longer smokes but still smells when hot. Should I be concerned? Also, it sputters on occasion and I get a cylinder misfire code. This only happens after I've been driving it all day and turning it off and on....hope you can help. Thanks
I have the exact same problem - it started a few days ago with a bad smell after I stopped the car. This morning I had oil on my garage floor. I made an appt with VW dealership for next week and I hope it is what you said and is not to expensive to fix. Wish I could fix it myself but its -40 outside right now and even if the weather was better - I am useless when it comes to stuff like this. Thanks for the insight! Take Care
p.s. Is it safe to drive the car this weekend or will I cook the engine?
I have the exact same problem - it started a few days ago with a bad smell after I stopped the car. This morning I had oil on my garage floor. I made an appt with VW dealership for next week and I hope it is what you said and is not to expensive to fix. Wish I could fix it myself but its -40 outside right now and even if the weather was better - I am useless when it comes to stuff like this. Thanks for the insight! Take Care
p.s. Is it safe to drive the car this weekend or will I cook the engine?
AnonymousJan 17, 2009
I also had the same problem...burning oil smell after driving home from work (filled my garage with smoke). The next morning I also had oil on my garage floor, like "millhouse1972". The interesting thing is, it was also VERY cold (-25F) driving home, similar to "Milhouse1972". I wonder if some oil pressure valve got 'stuck' in the cold, allowing pressure to get too high, causing it to push out wherever the seal is the weakest (valve covers, oil filter, etc.). I have not yet looked into it.
I also had the same problem...burning oil smell after driving home from
work (filled my garage with smoke). The next morning I also had oil on my garage floor, like "millhouse1972". The
interesting thing is, it was also VERY cold (-25F) driving home, similar to "Milhouse1972". I wonder if some oil pressure valve got 'stuck' in the cold, allowing pressure to get too high, causing it to push out wherever the seal is the weakest (valve covers, oil filter, etc.). I have not yet looked into it.
KEEP OIL LEVEL CHECKED CONSTANTLY!!!! CHECK FOR ANY PCV OR OIL BREATHER RESTRICTIONS. IF NOT YOU HAVE A CAM, CRANK, VALVE COVER, OIL PAN, OR SENSOR LEAK SOMEWHERE...FIND IT. *** TIP: POWERWASH ENTIRE ENGINE AREA, SPRINKLE BABY POWDER NEAR ANY COMPONENT YOU THINK MAY LEAK...THE BABY POWDER WILL DISCOLOR SHOWING THE LOCATION OF LEAKKEEP OIL LEVEL CHECKED CONSTANTLY!!!! CHECK FOR ANY PCV OR OIL BREATHER RESTRICTIONS. IF NOT YOU HAVE A CAM, CRANK, VALVE COVER, OIL PAN, OR SENSOR LEAK SOMEWHERE...FIND IT. *** TIP: POWERWASH ENTIRE ENGINE AREA, SPRINKLE BABY POWDER NEAR ANY COMPONENT YOU THINK MAY LEAK...THE BABY POWDER WILL DISCOLOR SHOWING THE LOCATION OF LEAK
You can't post conmments that contain an email address.
Sounds like valve cover gaskets need to be changed - they're a common failure on the 30v engine. Fortunately, they're also relatively inexpensive ($25 per cylinder bank - you need two - from www.ecstuning.com). They're also easy to change. They'd easily explain your oil smell - oil leaks onto hot valve covers and burns. Also, the misfire could be (not a guarantee, but it's possible) a result of valve cover gaskets as well - there's the main gasket which seals around the edge of the valve cover, and a second gasket shaped like three rings. This trims and seals the openings around each of the spark plugs, where the plugs are inserted through the valve covers. If you're leaking there, you can drown the top end of the plug in oil. If that gets into the spark wire boot, it can cause a misfire.
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
possible blown head gasket --check oil and coolant levels and consistency if oil looks like chocolate milk or coolant oil and milky most likely gasket --will need to further diagnose because more damage can exist if still driving vehicle
when it smells hot and there is vapor to be seen , it is boiling and over heating
take it to an accredited VW specialist shop and have it repaired as the next cost is another motor
Valve seals. When you shut the car off overnight, the oil leaks past the seals into the cylinders. When you start it, it burns that oil and smokes for a minute( actually it smoke all the time, just not as bad at startup).
I had this problem with my passat... the valve cover gasket is slightly leaking. If you take the big plastic piece off the top of the motor (4 plastic fake screws you just have to twist) you can see along the edge of the valve cover if there is oil or not. Mine wasn't bad, but was doing the same thing you describe. Here is a write up on how to do it... really easy (http://www.taligentx.com/passat/maintenance/valvecovergasket/) or you can get a Chilton manual which will show you how to do lots of things yourself, usually $30-$40 for the book.
from the VW manual........"expect to use about 1 litre for every 500 km."the oil level should be checked every week".........some cars have a breather on the side of the block that needs cleaning every year.(looks like a metal canister about 2.1/2" tall by 4"wide with a hose to the inlet manifold/air cleaner).
We had this problem in ours, found out it is fairly common, my dad has same model and his did it too. In ours it was the camshaft seal. We had it replaced, it cost us about $650. Oil smell was gone after that.
blue smoke out of 1.8 turbo its allways bad oil seal inside turbo.need new turbo or rebuild OEM. with 24 years experience working with vw never seen single headhasket go bad on 1.8 turbo engines.blue smoke its 100% turbo every time
I have the exact same problem - it started a few days ago with a bad smell after I stopped the car. This morning I had oil on my garage floor. I made an appt with VW dealership for next week and I hope it is what you said and is not to expensive to fix. Wish I could fix it myself but its -40 outside right now and even if the weather was better - I am useless when it comes to stuff like this. Thanks for the insight! Take Care
p.s. Is it safe to drive the car this weekend or will I cook the engine?
I also had the same problem...burning oil smell after driving home from
work (filled my garage with smoke). The next morning I also had oil on my garage floor, like "millhouse1972". The
interesting thing is, it was also VERY cold (-25F) driving home, similar to "Milhouse1972". I wonder if some oil pressure valve got 'stuck' in the cold, allowing pressure to get too high, causing it to push out wherever the seal is the weakest (valve covers, oil filter, etc.). I have not yet looked into it.
KEEP OIL LEVEL CHECKED CONSTANTLY!!!! CHECK FOR ANY PCV OR OIL BREATHER RESTRICTIONS. IF NOT YOU HAVE A CAM, CRANK, VALVE COVER, OIL PAN, OR SENSOR LEAK SOMEWHERE...FIND IT. *** TIP: POWERWASH ENTIRE ENGINE AREA, SPRINKLE BABY POWDER NEAR ANY COMPONENT YOU THINK MAY LEAK...THE BABY POWDER WILL DISCOLOR SHOWING THE LOCATION OF LEAK
×