After driving my car for a while and getting the engine to operating temp it has this really strong smell coming from it. Smells like some kind of fluid is burning, but its baffling me, I can't seem to figure out what this could be. Sometimes I think it could be gas but I really don't think so, its a very sweet smell but extremely strong. e.g. when I park it in my attached garage you can smell it in the adjoining room pretty strongly. What do you guys think this could be? thanks

 

Some synthetic transmission fluids give off a sweet smell when it burns on exhaust components. (Wonder how I know that?)

Antifreeze also gives off a sweet smell when it gets on hot engine parts and exhaust.

 

Hmm now trans fluid that could be something. It's got Mobil 1 synthetic fluid in it. My exhaust pipes around that point had quite a few fluids on them in the past. I wonder though how long this would take to burn off if that's the case. Or maybe that's an indication that its leaking, because I've taken it on long highway trips and the smell hasn't gone away at all.

 

sounds like coolant to me... better check to make sure you have nothing seeping into your engine.

 

There isn't any fluid visible anywhere? No visible leaks? I'm thinking it's coolant as well. I've had that problem before myself. By the way, BronYrAur.....are you a led zeppelin fan by any chance? (given your name )

 

oh yeah big fan, nice name there! There aren't any visible leaks anywhere, I can't see any fluid anywhere, but I really don't think its coolant, I know what that smells like, this seems to be too strong and almost pungent to be coolant. Seems like a contradiction but its sweet smelling but still pretty terrible smelling. Without seeing any leaks or any marks on the headers its hard to pinpoint.

 

A wire or some plastic melting on the exhaust manifold?

 

i strongly think it is coolant. Pull out your dipstick and smell it. if nothing take your valve cover off and smell it.

 

Alright, I'll do that, that is a good idea. I hope it isn't any leaking passages at the head gasket though, then I'd be very upset, so let's hope you're wrong

 

I hope I am wrong too.