Heating & Cooling Logo

Related Topics:

Posted on Jul 29, 2009

Air will not come out when turned on smell of burned oil. A/C is also effected

1 Answer

A

Anonymous

Do this.

1.)At your thermostat...Turn system switch to off position(dont have it in heat,cool, or auto mode).
2.)At your thermostat...put fan switch from auto to on position.
Do you have a indoor fan(is air coming out the small registers in ceiling or floor).
Do you smell "Oil" smell(most likely an electrical smell).

If you have no indoor blower, a bad smell, most likely your indoor blower motor fried, your control box has fried,or a combination of both.

Hopefully it's just a fan motor but the smell should go away after a bit.It shouldnt linger for days.

My guess if it lingers you burnt your transformer from a low side short.

Call a tech.

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

0helpful
2answers

When the engine air filter is lights will the car smoke white

White smoke is oil burning off. Try manually cleaning the filter with compressed air or at least tap it on the floor or bench to knock down the amount of dirt in it. Back to your question, not likely. Try to smell the smoke, if it smells like oil or if it smells like antifreeze.
0helpful
1answer

I have the smell of burning oil coming through air vents only when system is on.

Is oil dripping on to exhaust manifold and burning off creating the smell
0helpful
1answer

Bearing on brush is hard to turn and smells like it's burning

bearing hard to move will put strain on the belt and burn it. the bearing is easily removable pull it off, sometimes its just a good clean it will need, if will not come off tape it off. remove the muck build up and give the bearing a good soak in some wd40 or oil and wipe off and check for good movement then replace the belt. as it will snap more easy now it has been heated up.
0helpful
1answer

I have a 1997 Acura 3.5 RL and have been told my valve covers are leaking . I smell a burnt oil smell but see no smoke at all . The smell comes trough my vents sometimes when my air is on . Is this really...

Hi your valve cover gaskets need replacing .
The reason you smell oil burning is the residue of oil ,,that getting in to the spark plug recess holes .As the spark plugs get so hot , then the oil is burning off .The vapour is sucked in to your heater vants . I know i have just replaced mine,and now i have no smell ...
0helpful
1answer

1997 nissan pathfinder smells hot after running awhile

Check your valve cover gaskets, bet they are leaking and that is burning off.
1helpful
1answer

Burning plastic smell from under hood

You will need to check where the liquid is coming from, It may be anything from Air Con, Fuel, Transmission Fluid etc..

The fact you smell burning plastic could be 3 things..

1, Brake pads could smell and burn down if they are on too tight (Had this problem with a trailer). Hence when you apply the brakes it could be squirting brake fluid out due to too much pressure.
- Check brake fluid

2, If the smell and liquid is inside the car (front pass side) it could be the air ducts. Under the dashboard you have air ducts etc for the fans and in car cooling (brother had issue with this)

3, Whatever the fluid is, it could possibly drip onto something hot, unusual for liquid to smell like plastic though, Auto transmission oil smells like fish.

Best bet would be the brakes. Next time you smell it just smell in the wheel mag and see if you can smell it, check the engine fluids often and dont use A/C (Air Con) as that does drip fluid (normal). If it is the brakes smelling you will need to have the lines bled out, tyre places may be able to do this, and possibly new brake pads

Good luck
1helpful
1answer

Smell of burning oil out of heater vents

Have you checked under the hood,Mark? The heater commonly pulls outside air thru the vents and can get air coming up from the engine,so I'd look for a smell outside the car,under the hood.Let me know what you find.
You can alleviate it some by using the recycle air button on your heater,but you need to find the source quickly,so you don't have a fire. don-ohio (:^)
0helpful
1answer

Didnt know I was in 4WD and drove to town,also on freeway. Noticed the smell of burning rubber on the way home. Think I may have a leak in transfer case?

When you put any car into 4wd you effectively lock up both axles to turn at the same time,so your
tyres will all turn at the same speed,this has the effect of wearing out the treads when on tarmac at a fantastic rate (you could get through a set of tyres in 2-3k)hence the smell of rubber.if you have a leak from the transfer case,you will see the oil on the casing.if you have no leak,you have NO problem.
0helpful
2answers

Burning smell from AC Unit

http://www.hannabery.com/faq14.shtml

"Odor problems can be as serious as a gas leak or as simple as a dirty air filter. But remember, a good mechanic doesn't just use his hands. He uses his ears and nose. Unusual odors could indicate a serious problem and should not be ignored. 

We will go through each of the five categories and list the possible causes and things to check.


1. Electrical odor - Electrical odors are usually caused by parts overheating. Indoor blower motors are a common example. If there is a mechanical failure such as the bearings seizing up, the motor over-heats and the insulation on the wires and the motor windings themselves start to melt, causing the odor. 
Sometimes loose electrical connections cause wires or plastic relays to overheat causing electrical odors. 

It is possible for a very dirty air filter to cause the odor. If the airflow is restricted enough, it could cause electric resistance heaters to overheat, even burn-out. 

If you smell an electrical odor, check your air filter. If it is not blocked, shut off equipment at the breaker if possible and call for service. 


2. Burning odor - This is similar to an electrical odor only worse. It is also sometimes accompanied by smoke. Once again, this can be caused by parts or wiring burning-up. 

It can also be debri such as plastic getting into the ductwork and melting on the electric resistance heaters or heat exchanger. 

If you smell a burning odor, check your air filter. If it is not blocked, shut off equipment at the breaker if possible and call for service.



3. Gas odor - First of all, if you really smell gas and suspect a gas leak, you should open the windows, get out of the house, then call the gas company. 

Now excluding that "worse-case" scenario, if you notice an odor that smells like gas and it seems to be coming out of the supply vents, it usually isn't gas. Sometimes dust that settles on the heat exchanger during the summer months burns off at the beginning of each heating season and it smell just like gas. 

If the odor doesn't seem to be coming from the vents, try to pinpoint where the smell is coming from. Use your nose. If it is gas, it usually would be from a leak in a pipe fitting or at the equipment itself. 

Gas odor is the one that causes the most fear. People think of gas explosions or carbon-monoxide poisoning. Well, gas explosions are very rare and carbon-monoxide for the most part is odorless. 

Having said that though, don't take a gas odor lightly. If you can't locate the source of the odor and you are worried you have a gas leak, remember, open the windows, get out of the house, then call the gas company. 


4. Oil odor - Oil odors are usually caused by one of two things. An oil leak/drip or an oil burner that is not working properly. 

The oil leak is usually easy to spot. Just look for oil. Check the burner itself, the oil tank, filter and oil line. Sometimes it is just a matter of tightening a fitting. If there are no signs of an oil leak then it is most likely a burner problem. 

This can be caused by many things, too many to list. It could be a minor adjustment to the burner to a faulty or blocked chimney. From a bad fuel pump to a plugged oil nozzle. Listen for any unusual rumbling or banging sounds or smoke or soot while the burner is running. If you notice any of these things and/or you have an oil odor, you should call for service immediately. 

One other common problem today is that new houses are insulated so well and are built so tight that they run out of combustion air, causing odor problems. In this case it is just a matter of bringing in a fresh air for the burner. Call your local Heating Company to assist in a proper diagnosis. 


5. Damp and musty odor - This is more common in the air conditioning mode. Sometimes attic units or very damp basements have this problem. Check for air leaks in the return ducts. Check for water damage to the ducts or air handler itself. Possibly consider having your ducts cleaned. Run a dehumidifier and see if the odor goes away. 

But this odor problem is almost never due to a problem with your equipment. 

 


Final Tips:

Keep in mind that almost all heating systems cause an odor the first time they are fired-up. And the first few times at the beginning of each heating season. Brand new furnaces are coated with oil to keep the heat exchangers from rusting. This burns off, creating a bad odor - even smoke. But it usually only lasts for about 20 minutes. Opening the windows usually solves the problem. And the first few times the backup heat on a heat pump kicks on, it smells like an electrical smell. This might last for a few days but isn't that bad. If you are worried, call for service. 

Remember to check for a clean air filter and that your vents are opened. Check to see if the fan is working which mean your motor hasn't burned-up. 

Check for air leaks in damp areas, oil stains or rumbling sounds, strong gas odors - these all indicate problems. Do not ignore them. 

Hope this helps, remember - these are just rough guidelines and not all possible situations are covered."
Not finding what you are looking for?

129 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Heating & Cooling Experts

Paul Carew

Level 3 Expert

3808 Answers

john h

Level 3 Expert

29494 Answers

Brad Brown

Level 3 Expert

19187 Answers

Are you a Heating and Cooling Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...