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Smelly Heater
#1
2000 ZX3. When the car warms up and I use the heater, I get a smell of burnt oil blowing into the car, but only when the car is stopped. When the car is moving it's not there. Where does air enter the system to be heated? My valve cover was loose and I fixed that and some oil dripped down the front of the head, but not on the exhaust, my hand came up dry when I ran my hand along it. Coolant level doesn't drop. I'm confused because it dissappears when the cars moving. Any insight would be grateful. Thanks.

DRyanC
2000 Black ZX3 (sold)
2007 Liquid Grey ZX5 ses (sold)
2007 CD Silver ZXW ses
2013 F150 crew xlt 4x4 blue flame
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#2
same with me.. a week after my coil wire plug fried and had to be replaced...

now it started smelling agian but the plug seemes fine so im thinking it was just a coincidence.. i have no idea why it does that.. if it was the oil on the block.. it wouldn't stop after a while
ZX3T gone..
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#3
Oops sorry I corrected it.

When you're moving the air entering the engine bay dissapates the oil filled air and therefore you can't smell it. When your stopped the heater sucks up the air with the burnt oil in it. For me when I had this problem it was the valve cover gasket that needed to be replaced. I also had oil dripping down the block and a new valve cover gasket got rid of it.
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#4
head gasket? you sure? not valve cover?

mine doesn't always smell at red lights.. only smells now and then and after it disappears.. its mostly when i back up from my driveway.. then start rolling, then it smells.. but doesnt after some time.. stopped or rolling
ZX3T gone..
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#5
Thanks. Where does the heater draw air in?

DRyanC
2000 Black ZX3 (sold)
2007 Liquid Grey ZX5 ses (sold)
2007 CD Silver ZXW ses
2013 F150 crew xlt 4x4 blue flame
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#6
i can sometimes smell exhaust fumes from my air vents, would this be because the air gets sucked in somewhere near the flex pipe flange?
My other ride is your Mom
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#7
Going to the dealer on Monday to get that problem fixed. I'll tell you what it ends up being. From what I can see it looks like the valve cover gasket is leaking oil on the exhaust manifold. I smell it the burnt oil after I have been driving for a while and I stop at a light, then it seems to dissapates as I get up to speed again. But I can really smell it after getting out of my car from inside of my garage. I'll report Monday night.
vintage 2000 malibu blue ZX3 ***SOLD***
2013 performance blue ST

TEAM P.I.T.A.
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#8
Also see if it is under warrenty. I would like to se what they say. I don't trust the guys here at Concept

DRyanC
2000 Black ZX3 (sold)
2007 Liquid Grey ZX5 ses (sold)
2007 CD Silver ZXW ses
2013 F150 crew xlt 4x4 blue flame
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#9
This happened to me a little while ago, what happened with mine was there is a seal/gasket under the valve cover (Called valve cover gasket) that is bad and needs to be replaced. Oil will leak out in small amounts and it get's on the heat shield covering the header. The gasket is cheap something like $30-40 and can be replaced easily by yourself. Like I said this was my problem and it may be different for you.
2000 ZX3 - H&R Sport Springs, Fast Wheels, Kumho Tires, MOMO Shift Knob and Boot, Shortened Shifter, K&N Cone Filter
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#10
I have hte same problem. I changed my valve cover to a magensium one. Didn't like it. went back to stock, and now my interior stinks like burnt oil. Pissing the fack outta me. Car is going to the dealership on Monday, I will report this back.
Run your car, not your mouth
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#11
I've never had anything like this, but I'm waiting to see exactly what it is, in case I see this down the road.
Daily driver 1: 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport "S"

33" BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s, lots of Rough Country gear - bumper, 2.5" lift, swaybar disconnects, Superwinch 10,000lb winch, Detroit Locker in rear D44 axle, custom exhaust, K+N filtercharger, Superchips-tuned.

Daily driver 2: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT

COBB Stage 1+ package - AccessPort tuner, COBB intake and airbox. Stage 2 coming shortly - COBB 3" AT stainless DP and race cat, custom 3" Magnaflow-based exhaust and Stage 2 COBB tune.
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#12
I'm getting that problem again too actually. Last time I cleaned out my air Filter and the problem went away, course now it's 4 months later and I got the smell again. Maybe it's the air filter ?

and DRyanC, Don't trust Concept for repairs, they screwed up my car last time it was in there for repairs. Not to mention they screwed me over several times with my warentee issues I've been having since I've been taking my car in for servcing at Colony Ford, here in Brampton.
I was the only member on this board with a Yellow Focus Sedan, and a 2002+ Euro Facelift on a sedan.
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#13
Just a bump. Any word from the guys who took there cars to the dealer for this problem?

DRyanC
2000 Black ZX3 (sold)
2007 Liquid Grey ZX5 ses (sold)
2007 CD Silver ZXW ses
2013 F150 crew xlt 4x4 blue flame
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#14
Brought it in on Monday, they said the valve cover gasket was leaking, but they did not have any in stock. So I am bringing it in on Thursday to have it done. Won't be able to tell if the smell goes away until Thursday night.

Warranty: apparently the 2000 focus did not come with a power train warranty that exceeded the basic 3yr 60K warranty :angry: my car: 65K 4.5yrs

Cost: about $130 with labour.
vintage 2000 malibu blue ZX3 ***SOLD***
2013 performance blue ST

TEAM P.I.T.A.
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#15
Smell is gone. :) It was the valve cover gasket.
vintage 2000 malibu blue ZX3 ***SOLD***
2013 performance blue ST

TEAM P.I.T.A.
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#16
dBlast,Jan 13 2005, 07:39 PM Wrote:Smell is gone. :)   It was the valve cover gasket.
[right][snapback]78824[/snapback][/right]

nice.. that was 130$ including labor? at Ford or another shop? i think i might just bring it in another shop to have it done..

don't have the tool to torque it back to spec.. or do you need to?
ZX3T gone..
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#17
BerinG,Jan 17 2005, 01:59 PM Wrote:
dBlast,Jan 13 2005, 07:39 PM Wrote:Smell is gone. :)   It was the valve cover gasket.
[right][snapback]78824[/snapback][/right]

nice.. that was 130$ including labor? at Ford or another shop? i think i might just bring it in another shop to have it done..

don't have the tool to torque it back to spec.. or do you need to?
[right][snapback]79266[/snapback][/right]

yup, at Ford dealer. The part was about $48 (less 10% discount?) if you want to do it yourself or have someone else do it.
vintage 2000 malibu blue ZX3 ***SOLD***
2013 performance blue ST

TEAM P.I.T.A.
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