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Potential leak on to exhaust causing a burning smell?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:15 pm
by 2Brains
Evening Gents,

So I’ve had the car out for a couple of runs today - earlier I noticed a bit of a smoking type smell earlier but thought it may be brakes so didn’t think anymore about it.

Out again tonight and smelt the same smokey/melting type smell (as opposed to something just being hot).

Had a quick look under the car as best I could and one thing that stood out to me is the left hand side exhaust pipe looks wet/damp, like something is leaking on to it, potentially causing the burning smell. Can anyone confirm what it’s most likely to be? I would assume oil by the way it’s coloured the parts? Are there any ‘known’ issues which have been identified to cause this?

Thanks.

Re: Potential leak on to exhaust causing a burning smell?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:41 pm
by dasquade
Defintly something leaking and something to get looked into imho!
Bit hard to pinpoint and i'm trying to finguer out what is there. Looks to be the tranny as the engine is more upfront. Definatly something leaking, but could be comming from more upfront and find it's way on that spot down onto the exhaust.
Coolant burn smell? The o rings on the turbo's tend to leak over time...Easy to check if you are loosing coolant (check coolant tank).
I would get the car up on the lift and give her a good inspection.
*always helps to report back offcourse if they find out.

Re: Potential leak on to exhaust causing a burning smell?

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:18 pm
by 2Brains
In the interest of closing the loop; an Audi Group engineer jacked the car up and diagnosed it as a melted plastic bag.

- The residue was brown and waxy. If it was oil it would have been vaporised/flash off.
- It was at the lowest point of the exhaust.
- There was no oil residue up above the site - nor did the panels smell of have any traces of oil. (In particular the gearbox oil).

Re: Potential leak on to exhaust causing a burning smell?

Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:15 pm
by dasquade
Haha :) hope he was right, but good to hear and thanks for reporting back.

Re: Potential leak on to exhaust causing a burning smell?

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2019 3:02 pm
by Tadass910
2Brains wrote:
Fri Apr 12, 2019 8:18 pm
In the interest of closing the loop; an Audi Group engineer jacked the car up and diagnosed it as a melted plastic bag.

- The residue was brown and waxy.
So from where that plastic bag came?