hello everyone!

I have been wanting an outback for quite some time and finally did it. I bought a used 1996, arctic white, 2.2 outback with 135k miles. Well maintained, clean. I paid $4400 which i think was a good deal.

 

I'm finding myself babying it as I am very happy with it. I've been tinkering with it by doing some basic maintenance stuff. Since I didn't know if the manual transmission fluid had ever been changed, I took on the task (I only know how to do basic maintenance stuff - not TOO mechanical). Draining was messy as it got on what I assume is the exhaust pipe. then I spilled some on the transmission while trying to refill it.

 

Here's my concern: I've been getting A LOT of burning gear oil smell and it's much worse when the car idles. I did this last Friday and even washed the parts of the engine and exhaust pipe that had the spills on them. A couple of days ago, while it was idling I could even see smoke coming from the front vent! I've driven about 50 miles around town and thought that by now I would've burned it off. I've checked for leaks and ther aren't any. I checked the fluid level and it's dead on.

 

Do I need to be concerned? Is there something else going on, or does it just take a long time to burn off.

 

Thanks for any advice you can give!

If the smell only started since you spilt the oil on the exhaust then it's probably going to stop in a day or two. You might like to check the inner C.V. joint boots aren't split and flicking grease onto the exhaust though because that can smell a lot like grease when it burns.

It reeks! But it will go away....I know, I always spill some, clumsy fingers.

I had a cv boot rip and sling grease all over the exhaust. Check the inner boots. If not, then you're like me...messy: Filling transmission fluid through that little hole and spilling it.

I've spilled it on the exhaust too and was amaazed how long it took to burn off...even after many hours of highway driving

Thanks so much for replying! I wasn't having any problems with this until I changed the gear oil, so I'm assuming there's not an issue with the boots.

 

I guess I love this car so much that I don't want to do anything to muff it up. Plus there's the NASTY smell, too!

it took me 2 weeks to completly burn off the power steering fluid that spilled from shanging the pump and hoses, so dont feel bad.

 

 

nipper

Just be glad it wasn't an automatic, if you want to talk worst smelling carfluid when burnt :-p I can handle any of the other ones, but automatic fluid makes me want to hurl.