# Oil Odor in car **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** focus, ford\ **Created:** [May 24, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277 "2017-05-24T02:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@Stew](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Stew)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/1 "2017-05-24T02:24:44Z")
I have a 2000 Ford Focus. Past 6 month I have been smelling oil in the car thru the vent after coming to a stop light. My mechanic is saying it could be a gasket leak on the block that burns off. There is no smoke of any kind. Any ideas. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 7:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/2 "2017-05-24T07:01:21Z")
When my wife had a valve cover gasket leak, we learned that it takes very little oil dripping to make a noticeable smell. We did eventually see some smoke by using a flashlight in the evening when it wasn’t too bright out. Also, in her case, the car had to be on a fairly steep incline for the drip to happen, so you might try parking in different directions on a hill when you look for smoke. ---
**Author:** ![jasperscott101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@jasperscott101](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jasperscott101)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 9:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/3 "2017-05-24T09:56:13Z")
It could be a gasket leak. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/4 "2017-05-24T13:32:53Z")
I agree with your mechanic. He sees a known leak that could cause this. Fix that first. If the smell doesn’t go away, you have an additional leak problem. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/5 "2017-05-24T14:26:44Z")
I can add that a gunked-up PCV valve could be related to this problem. The increased pressure in the crankcase as a result of a gunked-up PCV can lead to leaks in old gaskets, and there could even be oil fumes emanating from the area of the PCV itself, if it is clogged. In view of how _incredibly_ cheap a PCV valve is, I would suggest starting by replacing that little part. ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/6 "2017-05-24T18:18:31Z")
Check the oil pressure sending unit. I had the same symptoms with my 93 Caprice, the sending unit was slowly dripping oil onto the exhaust pipe causing the smell. The leak was so small there was no noticeable smoke. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-odor-in-car/104277/7 "2017-09-18T01:36:52Z")
Fix all the visible oil and transmission fluid leaks, and see if the problem goes away after a month or two. If it doesn’t, special UV dyes can be placed in the oil and transmission fluid to help find the remaining leaks.