Engine and exhaust heat

[CA_Boxster]

It may be in my head, but lately after driving my 2000 Boxster 2.7 I get out and it smells like something has been burning a little. At first I thought it might be the tires (they only have about 7000 miles on them and I recently pumped the air pressure up a bit since they were more than a little low - I thought they were just heating up more), but I'm pretty sure that has nothing to do with it. I also noticed that the tailpipe seems very hot. I don't really know what it used to be like, but it's just strange that I'm noticing now. Does that sound like anything anyone else has noticed? Is it unusual?

[djantlive]

Did you check coolant level and temperature? Weather is getting warmer so a lot of stop and go traffic will raise temp.

Also look for any missing heat shields near the exhaust.

[CA_Boxster]

All look fine. Temp just over 180, oil halfway between min and max. My brake rotors were seriously hot, but that's just my driving.

It's due for an oil change. Has probably been a year (though only about 8000 miles). Maybe the oil's just done.

[mee]

I've seen a couple of recent posts of spark plug tubes leaking and the oil drops landing on the exhaust manifolds and burning off. Something else to check...