Hey guys, about a month ago or so I had my oil pan gasket replaced and after I noticed a a sweet exhaust smell coming from the engine bay. Well I'm pretty convinced that the guy who did my oil pan didn't secure my HRC DP to my stock DP very well and I'm getting a bit of an exhaust leak. But also I've been smelling a straight up burning smell coming from around the exhaust mani. When I stick my face right by it I can't really smell anything but when I'm outside of the car near the front I can smell something burning and can't pinpoint what it is. I felt around the back of the valve cover back by the driver's side to see if I could feel any leaks and it was a bit more black and greasy back there compared to the rest of it but nothing was really leaking. I'm just wondering if this could be a bad head gasket at all or what? I'm a bit paranoid because my sister's GS just had to have it's hg replaced since she was burning coolant and since I'm smelling sort of a sweet exhaust smell I thought I might have a problem with burning coolant too because of a bad hg.

I should probably add too that my coolant level seems fine and the car runs normal.

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HAD: '98 Eclipse RS

HAVE: '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G

The burning smell could be anything. It sounds to me like burning oil. I wouldn't worry about it being a HG just yet. How are your oil lines to the turbo? Any oil from your oil pan dripping onto your dp?

Oil is fine. The oil level checks out and like I said I just got the oil pan gasket replaced since it was leaking a bit and to my knowledge that was the only leaking oil I had. My exhaust isn't blue or anything either. The exhaust smells sweet but mainly in the way that gas smells sweet in liquid form (at least I think it smells sweet). And of course I'm running rich for the turbo. I noticed that below the valve cover there was a spot of dried green coolant like it had been there for a long time, not sure what that's about and the area around the valve cover was sort of black and gummy/gritty but that might just be dirt and other grime.

Next week I'm going to fix that exhaust leak and see if it helps and also do a compression test. I guess then I'll know for sure if it's the hg or not.

Here's a pic around the valve cover.

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HAD: '98 Eclipse RS

HAVE: '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G

that doesn't look like a leak to me. Is there any other spots....near the back?? By the back driver side Valve Cover bolt? Thatone is prone to leaking...

I eat emo kids for breakfast

1995 Eagle Talon (SOLD)
72' SuperBeetle
72' Standard Beetle
56' Deluxe Beetle

if there is no coolant in the oil and no oil in the coolant, compression is good I guess I would worrry to much about it..... tighten up the dp and see if that gets rid of the stink... If when they put in your pan gakett they spilled any oil/fluids on the exhaust this can stink... not sure if that helps any

The burning smell just smells like really hot metal. Like the heat from the manifold and downpipe. I've always had it since I got the turbo on but lately it's been really prominant and noticeable. My fuel is fine and no detonation or glowing. But yeah, I'll tighten up the downpipe and check compression next week when my friend helps me with the stage 2 upgrade.

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HAD: '98 Eclipse RS

HAVE: '04 Grand Prix GTP Comp G