Help me identify this phantom smell

[pat161]

Just another idea here, when they changed the tranny fluid did they lube the zerks on your driveshaft? Sometimes the driveshaft will fling some of the grease out, that grease tends to splatter directly onto the exhaust and produces exactly the smell you describe.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Im brining this thread back up because I still have this smell constantly. Again, it smells similar to burnt rubber to me. A few other notes to add . . . it only happens when I coming to a stop from high speeds (60+). I have some oil (I almost 100% sure its motor oil) along the bottom of my front sway bar, and scattered throughout beneath the engine. Its been there since I got my 4runer 2 years ago. I loose a very small amount of oil over the course of 5000 miles before I go to change the oil. So my question is, is this most likely a valve cover gasket? I wouldnt think oil would be able to get all the way down to the sway bar from just a minor leak in the valve cover. Or should I be worried about the head gasket at all?

 

[SJC]

Sounds just like oil dripping on something hot look for a dirty drip spot and wha la my 4runner doing the same thing oil dripping from the valve cover onto the exhaust

 

[1985taylor1925]

Im bringing this thread back because Im fairly certain I found the cause of this smell. Its the cat converter. I bet if I had said it smells like rotten eggs someone would have suggested the cat. But I equated it with burning rubber for some reason. So anyways, this sucks, because I cant afford a new cat right now.

Maybe I should just get an aftermarket exhaust?

 

[ajonesnv]

Rotten egg smell can be bad Diff fluid too. Gear oil smells horrible when it is bad.