Odd Smell

[0356kid]

Picked up my 2008 C2S from the dealer 3 weeks ago w/18000 miles on it. The dealer installed new Pirelli P-zero tires all the way around (rear are 305/30/19). I have put 700+ miles on the car and have noticed a burnt rubber tire smell from the rear tires after driving. I am not leaking any oil and I have checked underneath the car and see nothing out of the ordinary. Any thoughts or ideas on what this smell might be?

Thanks in advance.

Tony

[kgoertz]

That is very common. Actually my belief is that if you don't smell burnt rubber after a good drive in a 911 that just means you weren't driving it hard enough :-)

If you search the forums you will find a few discussions on the topic.

I'm pretty sure the problem is that small bits of rubber end up on the exhaust and melt when the car gets hot enough. On my car the problem seems to go away if I power wash the outside of the exhaust from the rear of the car and from the wheel wells.

Another theory that has been discussed on this list is that it is due to burning of some of the cosmoline that Porsche uses to rust-proof the engine.

[number9ine]

+1 on the cosmoline. The rubber smells too from heat and squibbles on the exhaust, but that deep oily smell after a good drive seems to emanate from the cosmoline coating on the engine block. I'd venture to guess that's mostly what you smell. If the smell is acrid, perhaps you have an under-inflated tire that's rubbing sidewall on corners.

Mark

Edited June 2, 2011 by number9ine

[0356kid]

Thanks Kgoertz and Mark for the insight. I'll keep an eye on it and maybe power wash as suggested. I did check the tire pressure and it seems to be OK. Otherwise, car runs great!

Tony