thatonedude1

Ever since doing my first oil change, I'm smelling oil burning at stoplights. Prior to the oil change, I don't recal this smell, but have only had the car for 600 miles. No, I didn't spill any, and I can't find even a drop or weeping of oil anywhere, except a very light film on the filter itself, but it should not be hot enough to burn there.
2009 MN6 with Z51 w/4000 miles. It does have LG long tubes and cats, and vararam. Anybody have or solve this mystery? Might a catch can help?

OnPoint

Drive it. It goes away.

Gary '09 C6

...separately, is the filter installed tightly enough ?
I've read here it s/b about 1.5 turns after "contact" is made with the gasket...

OnPoint

I agree on making sure the filter is snug, and I did fix this issue on one of mine just by wiping the filter clean with a rag wet with alcohol. Cleaned, dried the outside of the filter and the smell was gone.

On the other one - same deal, right after oil change smell was noticeable. So,. . . I did the same routine, ensure filter was tight and clean. Smell improved but was still there, altho went away shortly after with some driving.

Ketchum

Same thing on my 2008 I just bought. Changed oil. Then a burnling oil smell through vents for days. I looked engine area over several times and found nothing.

OnPoint

Yeah, several people have noted it. I just make sure the oil filter is snug and clean/dry, and either that keeps it away, or it goes away with some driving shortly thereafter.

It may be an issue like the low-voltage electronics shananigans on these cars turn out to be - understood only after the passage of 20 years or so. lol.

thatonedude1

Thanks for the tips. I cranked on it pretty tight with my hands last weekend, but still smelling. I'll get under there tomorrow and check again to see if the oil film is there. Maybe some debris on the gasket.

Ketchum

Some oil stinks bad in the first 1000 miles. Noticeable on diesels because no PCV system. its vented to atmosphere. There is at orange smelling additive to add to the oil because of this. Any chance thats what this is?

thatonedude1

I'm just using Mobil 1.

Mad*Max

although you believe that no oil spilled, you could have a very minor spill and that will give you the smell - just drive it as long as it isn't coming out of your tailpipe

Jimmy W1

I always tighten it according to the directions on the box. Usually it says 3/4 to 1 turn after the gasket makes contact with the engine. My PF 46 is the first one I have ever seen that has no directions on the box how tight to tighten it. So, this is probably why people don't know how tight to make it. I think I should have stuck with a FRAM filter. I never had problems with them in over 40 years. Now people on here are saying that an AC filter doesn't work all that well.......

Dif

For as long as I can remember it was always 3/4 turn after gasket makes contact.
I always error on the tighter side by maybe 1/4 turn, but usually find by the time it gets near 3/4 of a turn .. it's pretty tight and to go any tighter is forcing it.
From my experience too much more than that and it's a bear to remove on the next oil change

Jimmy W1

That's what I always did, too, but it usually says so on the box. I take a magic marker and make a line on the bottom of the filter so I know for sure. I have four other/different filters in my garage right now for all of my cars. Pennzoil, Valvoline, Motorcraft and AC Delco (for the 05 Vette). And the Delco is the only one that doesnt tell how tight to tighten it. I went to the acdelco.com website and they don't tell you anything either. Oh well.

pcguy2u

Since someone may have dropped oil on the engine previous to your taking possession, that's the likely cause. There has been at least one thread on this and after a huge amount of work, that's what it ended up being. In that thread it was a new GS.

Don-Vette

Why is there a film of oil on the filter? it should be bone dry,make sure it is tight.

Bone Daddy

I'm on my 3rd C6. Done LT headers on first two cars. Both had exhaust smells in car. Had every variety of leak check done and many veteryn techs swore no leaks.

Current car... no headers and no smells. I do yearn for the LT sound though.

Jimmy W1

I also think that when people are changing their oil they are filling up the filter with oil before they put it back on the car. And they might be spilling it when they screw it on. I have never done that before when I changed the oil in my cars and I have never had problems. The oil pressure jumps up within a second after the car is started so starting a car with a dry filter shouldn't damage the engine. But spilling oil from the filter might be the problem, too.

thatonedude1

Guys, I appreciate all the input. As for previous owner spill, I don't think so since I drove the car a couple hundred miles before I did the change, and no smell until I changed the oil. As for spilling from the filter.... possible since I do fill the filter up before install. However, I don't think anything down that low is hot enough to burn oil. Was under there today and the filter is bone dry.... I wiped the film last week and tightened it a little, like less than 1/8 turn. So no leak there. Looked everywhere I could see from underneath to from the top. Looks bone dry. Checked all the connections on the LG long tubes and they were all very tight. The only thing I can guess is a slight oil over fill. I put in 6 qts, but it looks like its about 1/2 qt high on the dipstick. Again, will a catch can help?

Jimmy W1

I thought they were supposed to take 6 1/2 quarts. Maybe the 09 takes less. I think my 05 is supposed to take 6 1/2, though. You are right, though. I have never heard of a slight leak in an oil filter making the engine smell like burning oil.

Chevy Cust Svc

Ketchum,
Did you have your oil changed at a dealership?

Chevrolet Customer Service,
Justin