I recently purchased a preowned 2010 G37x. When I test drove this one and another one I noticed some type of burnt smell periodically. I questioned the smell and the sales woman said it was probably just the solvent that they use for cleaning the engine compartment. The car has 45k on it and it is in immaculate condition both inside and outside so I can't imagine that it is an engine issue but I don't know. I've had it for a few weeks now and I still occasionally smell this smell. I've noticed it when I was parking the car in reverse the other day and I've noticed the smell while sitting at a traffic stop light after driving 60+ mph. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

 

Have you thought about washing the engine area down with water?

 

Could be a catalytic converter. Can you be more specific about the type of smell?

 

I'm a female and not good with car stuff, lol. It just reminds me of a burnt rubber smell maybe.

 

LOL let me try to help , Well pop the hood and look at the rad hose see if there greenish marks on it. You could be just leaking anti-freeze. Second check oil level and watch vehicle temperature sensor on dash to see how hot the car gets...

have you experienced any concerns in terms of driving ... Lag in gear change , power decrease ?

 

Is the car still under any type of warranty?

 

It is still under the 4 year manufactures warranty till July but the closest dealer is 45 mins. away so I'd rather not take it there if it's something stupid. The car drives beautifully otherwise with no problems. The first week of bringing it home, twice I noticed a slight light steam or smoke coming from the front grill which I assumed was the engine cleaner dissipating. The temperature gauge shows cold when first started and moves to between 8 and 9 on a clock and never moves from there. It had a PA inspection, emissions & an oil change using synthetic oil. The oil level shows full and clean. It is a certified preowned and supposedly it went thru a 125 point check before the sale.

 

From personal experience, you have leaking rad hose. trust me i had the same damn problem with my g37x coupe. inspect the hose you'll notice it a bit green from the end it connects to the rad

https://www.myg37.com/forums/g37-cou...m-problem.html

Read my post from back in the day ... lol

 

That's your personal experience, but weird s#it happens every day.

Years ago I parked my car while shopping at a lumber yard. A tarp that had been covering a truck blew under my car and melted onto the hot cat. converter.

My car smelled like burning plastic every time I drove it until I put it up and scraped off the residue.

As Fats Waller would say, one never knows, do one..?

 

Thanks for all of the responses. I really appreciate them and I will let you know what they find out

 

This. Had the very same thing happen to me. Drove over a salt bag, ended up melting and fusing itself to the shield covering the exhaust under my car. The heavy plastic was impossible to peel off. Ended up having to remove the cover completely.

I would smell it whenever I was standing still (such as at a red light) and occasionally even while driving if I'm running the car hot.

Just take a look under the car and look for any plastic stuck to something. At least that way you can just tell them the problem and the garage won't charge you the time to diagnose the problem. Keep in mind, since you bought the car pre-owned, its possible the previous owner did the same thing (got plastic melted to the underbody of the car). Even if you remove it, the smell can often linger for a short while until any remaining residue is burnt off.

As for the temperature gauge, if the needles position is between 8 and 9 (on a clock), its spot on. You don't have to worry about that.

Steam coming from your grille / hood is just water being evaporated. This will happen if you go through a car wash or occasionally if its raining. Now if its happening on a warm sunny day, I would be concerned.

 

Radiator fluid smells sweet, oil smells rubbery. My X smells right after I Get On It hard acceleration but the smells disapate under normal driving...
May not be the same thing.
But if your smell is constant have someone look into it!

 

Pancakes and syrup = coolant from a leaky hose, radiator or heater core.

David

 

Any luck with what the issue was for you ?

 

+1 to coolant smelling sweet, or like pancakes and syrup =D

When I first got my car with around 45,000km on it, I too noticed a burning smell around the hood area after I drove it. I even posted about it on here and found out a lot of people have also had this issue. It stopped happening about a month after I got the car and I haven't noticed it since. My best guess is something was burning off.