Engine smells

[twopointnine]

I read in another thread that a new owner noticed a smell of hot coolant with his car.

 

When I bought my Cayman (2.9, Gen 2, 71.5k miles) a year ago the engine just smelled of hot engine after a run with no particularly identifiable individual smell. Since December I've noticed a smell of hot rubber particularly from around the drivers side rear wheel. I've had a good look around the engine, I even removed the engine cover and undertray, but can see no signs of overheating rubber.

 

I've not noticed any changes in engine performance, and have not taken it to a Porsche specialist for analysis, so have carried on using it until an particular problem becomes evident. It's recently occurred to me though that perhaps one, or both, of the catalysts is running too hot and baking anything in the vicinity such as the tyre.

 

Has anyone else come across this, and is it a case of 'they all do that sometimes'?

Thanks.

[Beanoir™]

This is similar to Bushman's thread in the New Members section, concerned about a hot coolant like smell.  

 

Both of my Caymans smell when they were/are hot, my CR has been smellier than normal since I had the new exhaust fitted and at the same time new tyres, so I'm not sure if it's one or the other but it did smell a bit rubbery...  

 

After the the weekend in Wales though, I've not noticed it so perhaps it was a case of whatever was causing it was temporary.  

 

Have you put new tyres on recently?  I wouldn't get too concerned unless you notice anything else, such as loss of coolant etc. 

Edited April 25, 2016 by Beanoir

[DJMC]

My 981 has always done this. I asked somewhere and was told it's debris/rubber being thrown up onto the hot bits of the engine, much more so than you'd get with a front engined car where the engine is level with the front wheels.

 

Also asked my OPC and they said "they all do that sir..." as usual!

[twopointnine]

Thanks for the re-assurances.

Oil and coolant levels remain unchanging and there had been no recent tyre changes when I first detected the smell. I'll just carry on enjoying my driving and add the smell to the other things in my "They all do that sir" list.

 

[Andy Fagan]

5 hours ago, Beanoir said:

This is similar to Bushman's thread in the New Members section, concerned about a hot coolant like smell.  

 

Both of my Caymans smell when they were/are hot, my CR has been smellier than normal since I had the new exhaust fitted and at the same time new tyres, so I'm not sure if it's one or the other but it did smell a bit rubbery...  

 

After the the weekend in Wales though, I've not noticed it so perhaps it was a case of whatever was causing it was temporary.  

 

Have you put new tyres on recently?  I wouldn't get too concerned unless you notice anything else, such as loss of coolant etc. 

Nose blind 

 

Mine smells hot even after normal driving and my old Boxster did too. The race car just smells!!

[Bushman]

thanks for the reassurances guys, just have to accept that my new toy smells hot

 

[aslan]

My 2.9 does this as well.