So my buddy Matt recently bought an 08 OBS w/ a 5 speed and has so far loved it. He took it in for an oil change at a place he's always gone to (local place) for a full synthetic oil change. While changing it, the service tech managed to drip oil onto the exhaust header shield. They cleaned it up, but ever since the change (1 week) he's had a burning oil smell percolating into the car once it heats up. He's taken it back and had them check for leaks and found none.

 

The only other thing I can think of is that there is oil collected in the bottom of the heat shield and while it gets hot from the exhaust pipe, on the other side of the shield is constantly circulating winter air that keeps it just cool enough. So that it's taking an excessively long time for it to burn away. Thoughts/comments/jeers?

Yeah, if it dripped into the shield, he's probably just going to have to wait for it to burn away. He can try spraying brake cleaner around the area where the oil original dripped to possibly help the oil burn away.

Getting a good engine wash at a detail shop is smart as well. Watch the brake fluid on hot surfaces. Certain formulas emit a poisonous gas if overheated.

Brake cleaner is enormously flammable too. Make for damn sure it's all dried up before starting the car or you'll have much more than a smell...

 

Maybe take the affected shield off and clean it away from the car so you can be sure it's clean and dry?