Faint burning smell after driving

[Brandon966]

2016 new to us with 140k. Well maintained according to carfax with scheduled maintenance performed on time.

After driving we smell a faint burning smell. Smells like a combination of brakes and oil, goes away after a few minutes of sitting.

Changed oil, cleaned engine bay, changed pcv valve. Inspected for valley plate and other leaks, from what I can tell everything is dry as a bone.

Still a faint smell. Any ideas of where to start? I’m going to change all brakes to ceramic anyway maybe that will help some.

 

[08URJ200]

With that mileage, could be alternator. Typically smells like what could be described as an electrical burning smell, if that makes sense.

 

[bloc]

Is it more toward the rear of the vehicle?

If so mine has done this occasionally for the 130k miles I've owned it primarily after time on the freeway. Over my years here a number of other people report a similar experience. So far no great explanation on it.

 

[manofthewoods]

Is it more toward the rear of the vehicle?

If so mine has done this occasionally for the 130k miles I've owned it primarily after time on the freeway. Over my years here a number of other people report a similar experience. So far no great explanation on it.

Similar here. Though mine doesn't require highway miles; just driving enough to get hot.
My (admittedly weak) theory is grease from the DS U joints hitting the exhaust.

 

[Brandon966]

Is it more toward the rear of the vehicle?

If so mine has done this occasionally for the 130k miles I've owned it primarily after time on the freeway. Over my years here a number of other people report a similar experience. So far no great explanation on it.

Front, definitely engine bay.

I’m gonna try one more thing and pull the covers off and the skid plates and just degrease the entire engine. Maybe there’s some residual funk somewhere.

I may make a separate thread, but I swear this LC 200 “luxury” off-roader sure does a bunch of dumb stuff. We may be one of the very few that don’t seem to be enjoying this platform so far. Loved the tundras, loved the GX460, 4Runner was meh, not a fan so far of the LC200.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

Possibly oil dripping on hot manifolds from a timing chain cover or cam tower leak?

Good possibility of brake dust too, depending on the smell. Tough to upload smells to mud.

 

[gaijin]

Possibly oil dripping on hot manifolds from a timing chain cover or cam tower leak?

Good possibility of brake dust too, depending on the smell. Tough to upload smells to mud.

Bring back smell-o vision!

 

[hokiehigh]

Any rust preventative undercoating done? over spray on exhaust components can result some burning smell

 

[sdnative]

I get a burning smell after lubing the drive line as grease is flung on the hot exhaust.

 

[K9LTW]

We had the same, inexplicable smell shortly after getting our '16 with 100k on it a year ago. I was checking wheel temps thinking I had a stuck caliper or something. Got under it, over it, pulled fender liners...could never identify errant fluids or anything that may be burning off. It's pretty infrequent that I may get a whiff now, so I'm wondering if it was some engine cleaner or something the dealership put on it. I've put about 13k on it.

I do notice, though, as I walk past the front there's a heat pocket (mmmmmm...Hot Pockets) that creates a noticeable change in temp even 2 feet in front. For me it's on the passenger side...just passed the middle of the hood, but it's cool again before I get to the passenger corner. Weird.

 

[linuxgod]

I get a burning smell after lubing the drive line as grease is flung on the hot exhaust.

Yeah this. I’ve had the same thing when a shop puts a little too much grease in the driveshaft slip joint. If you climb under the vehicle it’s easy to spot

 

[Artie]

I agree with the u-joint crowd here. The 2 center u joints are right next to exhaust and if you don’t do a good job of cleaning when you grease these they will sling any extra grease on the exhaust and heat shielding. I’d wager that the seller had maintenance done before listing and this could be the result of the burning smell.