# Somethings Burning **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 14, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915 "2009-01-14T17:36:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TonyGRMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TonyGRMI](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TonyGRMI)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915/1 "2009-01-14T17:36:03Z")
My 2002 Mazda Millenia has a burning oil smell but only after coming to a stop after a hard run on the highway. The car runs fine otherwise. There is currently a code shown for one of the front catalytic converters (the car has three) but I was hoping that there is something else that could be plugged up in the emmissions system that could cause this. Any Ideas? ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915/2 "2009-01-14T17:46:02Z")
Just a slight chance,look for a plastic bag melted to one of the cats.Diagnois this plugged cat with a manifold vacuum test,stay on this problem,time is running out for you to get a free cat on the Federal Warranty regarding cats. (8 yr 80,000) ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915/3 "2009-01-14T17:55:24Z")
Yeah, I had the plastic bag problem once. It took over a week for the smell to go away. ---
**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 11:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915/4 "2009-01-14T23:05:44Z")
It’s possible you have a slight leak in a valve cover gasket or another seal (like a main bearing seal) that leaks only when under pressure for a while. You could pop the hood and look for traces of oil/oil smoke after a ‘hard run’ Also check your PCV system—if it’s malfunctioning, it may be letting pressure build up and push oil through engine seals. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_josh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mr_josh/32/3008_2.png) [@mr\_josh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mr_josh)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/somethings-burning/24915/5 "2009-01-15T01:01:10Z")
I like this idea. You smell it after a hard freeway run because it’s been leaking oil more rapidly while you’re running it hard, but the smell is just blowing away without you noticing it. When you come to a stop, the smell wafts in to the vents.