Smelly Exhaust

[stef]

My 2006 Boxster has about 20k miles, and after getting the rear tires changed (don't think there's a relation but maybe), I noticed that the exhaust is really smelly. Like burnt hair. Like a mouse crawled into the cat (haha) and died. It's horrible!

After a spirited drive for about 30 miles, it's still there. The tank was half full when I noticed it, so I don't think it's the gasoline, either. Oil level is good, engine power is good. It just suddenly stinks! There is definitely more smoke than normal, but I don't feel any deposits on my hand when I hold it up to the exhaust.

Any ideas? Did my O2 sensor just go south and I'm just waiting for a CEL?

[phillipj]

Sure it's not a rubber smell? Rubber does get on the exhaust and can be quite strong... Did you change tire brand or compound?

[stef]

Sure it's not a rubber smell? Rubber does get on the exhaust and can be quite strong... Did you change tire brand or compound?

Tire brand was the same (ps2) but first tire change I did. It could be a rubber smell, although it was ridiculously strong.

At this point I'm figuring it'll either burn off or will give me a CEL soon. I think the smell has gone down a bit, though, so that's a good sign it was just rubber crud somehow on the pipes. (vulcanized rubber certainly will stink bad, but it seemed to be coming from the exhaust, not the outside of the pipes. )