heat smells like oil

MethodMan97 · 12-05-2009, 06:28 PM

hey, i've noticed that when the heat is on it kinda smells like oil and fills the car up with the oil smell... the car runs good but the privious owner used to use 20w50 oil and the oil light comes on when i start the car for about 10 seconds then goes away... any idea what the problem is or how to fix it? thanks

CoolAsIce · 12-05-2009, 06:41 PM

as for the oil smell, could be your valve cover leaking oil onto the exhaust.

thats pretty heavy oil for use in this cold weather. i would try something lighter like maybe a 10w30.

i run 5w30 all year round.

autodrjr · 12-05-2009, 06:43 PM

my oil smell was the valce cover leaking... made it hard to drive at times. real cheap and easy to replace

arsevader · 12-05-2009, 09:44 PM

What car are you talking about? Your profile says e36 but this is the e46 section.

MethodMan97 · 12-06-2009, 12:58 AM

thanks guys i will get my valve cover get checked asap. and yah i am driving an e46 i should change that

arsevader · 12-06-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MethodMan97

thanks guys i will get my valve cover get checked asap. and yah i am driving an e46 i should change that

Ok, then 20W50 is the furthest thing from the right oil they could possibly put in it. You should be using one of the following oils. These are really the only ones you should be using.

Mobil 1 0W40
Castrol Syntec 0W30 (Made in Germany)
BMW 5W30 Synthetic

mjohnny · 01-21-2010, 04:43 PM

ya the oil smell is 100 percent the valve cover leakin, i had that issue and it was gone once i replaced it. The oil light issue is probably your oil sensor, mine does the same thing.