Hello everyone!

Just to start, I am a newbie without too much of car knowledge so please excuse me if any concern or questions may sound too amature. And I thank everyone in advance for advice and patience!

I have a 08 S2000. All bone stock, purchased used from dealer Oct 2014. Only had 1,300 miles. Now standing at about 3,900 miles. Since then, I performed mtf, rear differential oil, and brake bleed myself. Synthetic oil change was also performed by dealer before the sale.

I went for a relaxing drive last night (Top up) and the passenger said she smells something burning. I couldn't detect it so we just continued. Perhaps about another hour into driving through hills, curves and freeway, I also smelled something burning once we got to a complete stop.

Immediately pulled into a gas station. Trying to see if anything was noticeably wrong. Nothing particular. BUT! I found some evidence of splattered yellow/light brown oils present. It wasn't all over the engine bay but

1. Around brake fluid reservoir and clutch fluid reservoir area
2. On corner crevices of intake manifold cover
3. On what appears to be horn next to the intake cover
4. On top of radiator
5. None visible around or on the engine or gasket
6. None visible on bottom side of the hood
I don't know if this matters but some seemed to be fresh but also with layer of dust on them when wiped. Also, the engine oil is at full level.

What concerned and tricks me is that the splattered oil isn't concentrated in one area. It also isn't like a thick layer but a very thin layer.

I honestly don't remember looking too much into it when I purchased the vehicle. Even less concerned since it was such a low mileage vehicle.

Is such visibility of layer of oil normal for this vehicle?
If not, where should be my first concentration spot and biggest concern?
What could be causing the burning smell that was the initial concern if not the oil?

Please help out with your knowledge!

Thank you!

 

Do not drive that car until you check your oil filter!!

 

More info can be found here.

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/112...#entry23603680

Basically S2000 oil filters need to be tightened with a tool because they need to be quite tight. Many S2000 engines have been ruined by loose oil filters and it seems like you are quite lucky you didn't ruin a very pristine example. Hopefully oil pressure wasn't effected enough to do any damage.

Edit: reread, seems that your quite lucky that incompetent dealership didn't ruin a prestine example!

 

Thank you for the reply!
Can you please elaborate what exactly I should check for on engine filter?

 

Make sure it is tight, my guess is that it isn't. OEM filters have #s 1-8, basically you seat the filter and then turn it 7/8ths of a turn. Or if you have a torque wrench attachment then there is a spec somewhere in that thread. You can't get it tight enough by hand.

If it isn't the oil filter my only other guess would be that they sprayed some type of detail spray on the engine.

Oops noticed I didn't add the thread. Added it now, read through it there is good info towards the end on tightening the filter

 

If you smell oil burning it is likely an area around the exhaust header, and exhaust piping (passenger side of vehicle), dripping down from higher up.

Some of the areas you mention almost sound like rustproofing which many dealers use. Grab a bright flashlight and shine it down around the passenger side of the engine, around the header, oil filter, valve cover mating surface, vtec solenoid, oil pressure switch. With the engine cold rub your fingers all over those areas, and see if you can find some wet oil.

 

7/8th turn or 16 pound-feet torque.

 

18ft lbs but close enough.

 

Oil filters are unique to this car. The S OEM filter is not like other car filters.

Standard oil filters seal with just a rubber gasket. This engine's filter has a gasket but it seals via torque metal to metal. Take a look at the OEM filter for this car and compare. You will see the S OEM filter has the gasket sandwiched between two metal rings. They are not there just to keep it in place; they make contact with the engine. That is why the torque is so important and using your hand to tighten will, in all likelihood not be sufficient. Maybe some have never seen a failure tightening by hand but a run through threads and history reveals others have not been as fortunate. Almost all the engine fires for the S have been caused by an oil filter coming loose and shooting oil on the engine.

I am trying to recall if a loose oil cap or one that is not sealing can lead to something like this. May want to check it too.

Here is a link to a thread that gets into oil filters.

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/1122318-oil-filters/

 

A bad oil cap will certainly cause oil to spill everywhere over the valve cover, and down the back of the head over the transmission. But it seems really odd that oil would wind up near the break fluid reservoir. Or on top of the fuel rail cover for that matter. There's really not a lot of places oil can externally leak unless the block has damage.

External leaks are caused by:
Valve cover gasket going bad
TCT or V-TEC solenoid gaskets going bad
Oil pan leak
Front timing case
Oil filter
Rear main seal
Front main seal
Bad oil cap gasket
Bad PCV grommet
Clogged PCV valve
Cam wheel bolt o-ring
re-using the TCT service hole crush washer
Bad dip-stick O-rings
Bad valve cover bolt grommets
Bad spark plug tube seals
and a busted head gasket.

Even more strange because the only way oil would get hot enough to burn is if it's loitering around the exhaust manifold, as that easily reaches 800 degrees f.

Maybe if your PCV valve is stuck closed, oil could come out the filter through the breather, but with such low miles I find that unlikely.