Just bought a new used 02 wrx wagon off the lot had it for a few weeks i now notice after driving it and i pop the hood i get a strong burnt smell on the pasenger side of the motor no smoke or leaks on the ground any seguestions??
Thanks

 

sounds like something is burning.

 

smells like something is burning too.

 

Any idea what it could be it kind of smells like burnt collent but nothing leaks on the ground

 

check your valve cover on the passenger side to see if oil is leaking or even possibly the coolant upper reservoir on the manifold. Check to see if the hoses are starting to bulge and swell.

 

Check the CV boot next to the down pipe.when the boot rips it gets the grease all over the down pipe and it is a very strong smell almost like a rubber burning smell..

 

Just had to replace my hoses because the upper one was swelling and seeping coolant. Smelled like coolant though, not burning oil, but mine was seeping at the top.

This would be one of my first guesses too, and should be very easy to spot under the car.

Maybe oil pan gasket too? If it starts leaking, it will smell like burnt oil all the time.

 

IF it smells sweet like coolant:

inspect all rubber hoses
inspect head gaskets
inspect radiator
inspect overflow tank

big thing is the rubber. with the heat of engines, rubber and plastic fade and crack overtime. if u have a small crack in a hose and its angled the right way, the coolant will shoot up, off your hood, and back onto your hot block, burning it, and leaving no evidence.

i have 260,000 on my RS and just rebuilt the engine. ONE hose was cracked, but replaced all rubber anyways.

GL

 

Also check around (above) the oil filter for oil leaks...and the breather lines on the valve covers (gaskets fail and dribble oil down).

+1 for pass. side CV boot flinging grease - won't fall to the ground, but the downpipe is a hella good grease-catcher.

 

Passenger side is also prime for power steering line leaks.

If it is just a burning smell with no smoke and no leaks I am not sure how you are going to track it down.

 

When my PS lines started leaking I was getting puffs of smoke through the scoop, so that one was definitely obvious. When the pump went out though, there was no indication, it just went...

 

I just happened to look on the pavent under my wrx and noticed there was a few drops of clear gel liqued i think its the front diferentail fliud or something..and still the smell.. gonna put it on stands thursday

 

Gel sounds like cracked CV boot. Diff oil won't look like "gel" IMO.

 

If my cv boots cracked or torn should i repkace the axle?

 

Ended up being a valve gasket ended up smoking a bit