Check the top of all the exhaust/cat heat shields for burned oil deposits, indicating a leak from valve covers or head gaskets. You may have to turn the wheels stop-to-stop and use an inspection mirror.

 

I'll try to check that. I did have some CV axle grease that got flung up on the back side of the driver's side engine. I wiped all that I could find from top and bottom access.

I did have many gaskets (including head & valve cover gaskets) replaced a few months ago.

Side note: my cat converter is completely blown (not clogged, like everything is disintegrated inside just about) through and not doing it's role anymore. That wouldn't cause any burning smells in the engine bay though, would it?

 

"Side note: my cat converter is completely blown"
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Cars without cats stink, literally. Have another driver take your car while you tail it in another to get a good whiff.

Maybe a cold engine soak of "simple green" and gentle rinse will get rid of some more ooze.

 

I've got a different smell when standing behind the exhaust. Definitely smells worse than a healthy exhaust system. However, the smell up front is different. More like a burning fluid.

 

If it's a metallic burning smell after going up a long hill/mountain pass, but no performance issues are evident, it's probably the cat heating up. My '05 Outback has a metallic odor whenever I muscle up mountain passes (I usually notice it most when I travel to a ski area located at the top of a given pass). The only related problem that I've noticed in the 12 years I've driven the vehicle is a failed front CO sensor.

 

It's not a metallic smell. Smells more like fluid to me.

 

Maybe a stupid question but since it wasn't mentioned yet--have you crawled beneath the car with a flashlight and looked around? There's about 100 different ways oil can leak out from the engine and drip onto the heat shields. It would be easy to spot under there.

Failed cats usually smell like rotten eggs. The smell of oil burning is very distinctive and your nose should be able to diagnose at least which is the culprit.

And total side question... Does your '03 have sensors up AND downstream of the cat? Those sensors monitor downstream exhaust for A/F adjustments and if the cat goes bad the ECU kicks itself into limp mode until fixed.

 

Ya, it's not a rotten egg smell...I get that from behind the car. The cats are completely trash I was told by the mechanic that replaced the engine. Says he can see right through them end to end.

I have been on the underside and looked everywhere I can. I took it to the mechanic that just replaced the transmission front pump seal and axle (boot grease was everywhere) and he went ahead and gave it steam clean. I'm forced to drive it several hours this weekend up into the mountains, so crossing my fingers. But I'll get a chance to see if the smell continues.

 

.well I can never get a consistent read on it because of the crazy dipstick.

Pull your stick from a hot engine

, clean it,
then wait five minutes for reinsertion and reading.

Oil stays in the tube more if the stick is in, so you get a bad read, no matter how long you wait.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a shot.

 

Try replacing your radiator cap (obviously with the engine cool). I was having coolant burning smells when the engine would get hot until i replaced the cap. There was no evidence of coolant loss or leakage. Am assuming the cap wasn't releasing pressure and probably caused some very small weeping somewhere in the system.

 

Thanks, ya we replaced the radiator cap a few months back.

 

I have a not-terrible oil leak (head gaskets) that wets the bottom of the engine, doesn't drip, and only smells and smokes after a 2 mile long 60mph uphill.

CV grease almost smells like burning plastic, oil just feels acrid in the nose without a lot of distinct smell, I haven't smelled frying ATF in long enough to recall what's distinctive about it.

You can put together a small sample of oil and atf and heat a metal rod with a propane torch then drip a little onto the rod and wave a little of the smoke towards your face with your hand to see what each smells like, just a couple drops each is plenty.

 

I have a not-terrible oil leak (head gaskets) that wets the bottom of the engine, doesn't drip, and only smells and smokes after a 2 mile long 60mph uphill.

I just had a rebuilt engine put in (with new gaskets all around), and I can't see any leaks from any of the mating surfaces.