Hot rubber smell

[MsTaboo]

Hi all,
Well we are 1500 miles into our SW trip, question.
When we stop we smell hot rubber. I have checked in the engine compartment, not there. The tires (which are new studded snow tires) are not rubbing anywhere, and don't smell anyway. The smell just seems to emanate from somewhere underneath. Any ideas?

The woes so far:

This hot rubber smell.

We have a small oil leak from the rear seal area.

The speedo crapped out first thing this morning.

The good:

Propex heater rocks! In the teens last night at Arches Nat. Park and we were nice and toasty.

Anyway, help with this smell would be appreciated. I don't like not knowing.

Thanks.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
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[Vanagon Nut]

This is something I've noticed on my '81 (now water cooled). I don't know if this was happening while it was still an air cooled but.....

On mine, the "lower" rad hose is close (read: up against) the spare tire. My thinking is that it is the "lower" rad hose heating up the sidewall of the spare tire. But that is just a guess.


Cheers,

Neil.
_________________
1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[wgargan]

your engine is too powerful and you are burning rubber all the time. Slow down
_________________
Current ride:

1983.5 Watercooled Vanagon 'L' Automatic transmission

[billybobrudebaga]

I am having a similar issue and I think today I figured it out.
Last week I put on new winter tires and the tread is much more aggressive and better at throwing things around in the back of the van, including right on top of the exhaust pipe.
I get the smell for a brief minute or two and then it is gone. Kind of smells like rubber, but not quite the same lingering odor . Only happens when there is water on the ground or I go through a puddle or two.

I have a Tiico so my exhaust is different, but on the driver's side of the car, I am getting the water and some road grime and grit thrown right onto the pipe that goes to the muffler. I can see the steam coming it too when I stop the car and get out. I think the pre-treated (Some kind of NaCl mixture) is adding to the smell in my case...but...I'm not sure about that either.

You might be experiencing the same thing???? I know that I never smelled it prior to putting the new tires on.

Good luck though..sounds like your livin' the dream.

-Billy

[Boogievan]

My speedo quit working several months ago. I fixed it in about 2 seconds by saying "What the?..." and giving the top of the gauges a good whack. Worked ever since. (I'm not even joking...)

[dravin21]

[MsTaboo]

Thanks for the ideas.

The hot rubber smell has faded, but now the oil leak has gotten scary.

We're leaving a puddle every time we stop and the rear of the van is coated with a combination of oil droplets and dust.

I'll do a search on oil leaks, but any ideas here would be appreciated.

The leak is from the front of the engine, maybe main seal? The wind has driven some oil upwards onto bottom of air cleaner and water dist. pipe.
The valve covers are dry.

I've dumped some BarsLeak into the motor (no help) I hope this gunk doesn't make matters worse.

Is there anything I can check or tighten? We have a thousand miles to go!

The speedo is working though, after the day warms up, but never in the morning!

Thanks for any help.
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine.

[Gauche1968]

One or both of your brake calipers may be sticking or too tight. Check to see if the smell is coming from either front wheel well.....
_________________
1984 Vanagon GL
1984 Vanagon Westy

[billybobrudebaga]

This may seem silly, but are you positive it is motor oil?
Is your transmission an auto or manual?
The reason I ask is because if you look thru some of my older posts, I had a similar issue. Mine turned out to be leaking some really nasty fluids (bad combo of trans fluid and gear oil) from my transmission and it was puking it out when stopped. It was sprayed all over my engine compartment after driving at high speeds.
If your sure it's motor oil, I'd get a close look at the underside and see if you can find where it is dripping from. Oil drain plug? Case leak ? Main seal?
If it smells kinda nasty (like old socks) and doesn't have the same consistancy as oil, check your trans fluid to see what color it is. Your back to back seals may have eroded and the fluids are mixing together and ultimately escaping the transmission.

Good luck, let us know what you find out.

[MsTaboo]

billybobrudebaga- Yeah it's motor oil, the level is going down and I'm refilling! (also it's a Syncro, 5 speed)((well 4 1/2 anyway))

I'm thinking I should start a new post about the oil leak. The hot rubber smell has gone away. ( may have been the brand new snow tires running on dry pavement.)
_________________
Currently:
'90 Syncro Westy 3 knob w/Zetec

The information age has morphed into the age of disinformation and willful ignorance. Agnotology!
Help the fight against Truth Decay.
Defend democracy, support Ukraine.

[billybobrudebaga]

That's too bad about the oil leak..sorry to hear that...but on the plus side..at least you know it's not the transmission!!

motor on!

-Billy