Oil smell in cabin when idling?

Sounds like the truck is a G2. So no recent oil change. Which could have left some oil on frame. Or somewhere under hood. Which would allow your fresh air setting to draw that smell in.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I had this happen once. It was about a month ago. The best I can describe it is the smell of "hot oil." It only lasted for about an hour or so, and it started after a period of longer than usual idling. I haven't smelled it since. No vehicle is completely sealed so this didn't surprise me. I think what surprised me was that the smell lingered even after I was driving but then it went away and didn't come back. Problem solved until it returns.

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep track of it and will mention it to the dealer when I have my first oil change - which won't be for a while. If I learn anything, I'll certainly share that here.

I've noticed an oil smell when parked in the garage, no oil spots or leaks that I can see.

Frank Favero said:

I've noticed an oil smell when parked in the garage, no oil spots or leaks that I can see.

Click to expand...

Same here. I also notice it (the smell) in the garage, but no oil spots on the floor or obvious oil in the engine compartment.

One thing I noticed about this vehicle is you'll immediately smell whatever is outside that your passing by if it's say low tide smell, some diesel exhaust, etc. with the heat/ac set on "fresh air". Seems very efficient at drawing in new air from outside compared to other vehicles where I don't notice it as strong and quickly coming into the cabin.

MrClam said:

One thing I noticed about this vehicle is you'll immediately smell whatever is outside that your passing by if it's say low tide smell, some diesel exhaust, etc. with the heat/ac set on "fresh air". Seems very efficient at drawing in new air from outside compared to other vehicles where I don't notice it as strong and quickly coming into the cabin.

Click to expand...

I like low tide smell! Especially a Maine low tide...

I've started noticing the "hot oil" smell in mine over the past few weeks. I purchased mine in October and now have ~6,700 miles on it. It seems to be most prevalent when the engine has only been off a short period of time, then you restart it. That's when you smell it the most in the cabin. However, I've been noticing the smell in my garage lately.

My fiance only rides in the truck a few times a week and I've never mentioned it to her. Tonight we stopped at a store and were only inside for ~20min. When we got back in the truck she asked "Do you smell gas?" as I was backing out of the parking spot. She agreed that it was more of a "hot oil" smell than gasoline.

I've checked the oil twice in the past two weeks and it's dead center between the max and min lines on the dipstick. I don't see any visible leeks anywhere. I'm starting to wonder if it's some type of PCV system issue that's allowing crankcase gasses to seep back out.

I smelled gas for the first time this weekend. I overfilled slightly before I went to pick my daughter in the storm. I idled on and off for abut 40 minutes while I waited for her to show up. I thought it was because I overfilled. If you smell your oil cap, or oil on the dipstick, it really smells like gas. Guess it is just a characteristic of the truck.

14v6 said:

I smelled gas for the first time this weekend. I overfilled slightly before I went to pick my daughter in the storm. I idled on and off for abut 40 minutes while I waited for her to show up. I thought it was because I overfilled. If you smell your oil cap, or oil on the dipstick, it really smells like gas. Guess it is just a characteristic of the truck.

Click to expand...

Most of the comments above (and definitely mine) aren't referring to over filling the gas tank. What happens at the gas tank should have no effect (short of a defective EVAP system) on gas or oil smell under the hood.

Mine occurs regardless of when I last filled the tank.

erikras said:

Most of the comments above (and definitely mine) aren't referring to over filling the gas tank. What happens at the gas tank should have no effect (short of a defective EVAP system) on gas or oil smell under the hood.

Mine occurs regardless of when I last filled the tank.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I just thought it was too much of a coincidence. I've never idled that long either.

I have also had the oil smell a few times when starting up in my garage. I will take better notice if happens when engine cold or parked for a short period of time and then go back out.

So My 2006 GEN 1 RL started to have this smell at around 170,000 miles. My Gen 2 is starting to have this smell at 2500 miles. Something is wrong. Mine starts after it has been run for a while, say after 20 minutes, then I come to a long traffic light, and the smell comes in the vents. When I stop, I can smell it coming out of the grill. I have not had an oil change done or any service and there are no oil drips under the truck, so there should be no reason for this kind of smell. I think it is time for it to go to the dealer.

mschulz said:

So My 2006 GEN 1 RL started to have this smell at around 170,000 miles. My Gen 2 is starting to have this smell at 2500 miles. Something is wrong. Mine starts after it has been run for a while, say after 20 minutes, then I come to a long traffic light, and the smell comes in the vents. When I stop, I can smell it coming out of the grill. I have not had an oil change done or any service and there are no oil drips under the truck, so there should be no reason for this kind of smell. I think it is time for it to go to the dealer.

Click to expand...

Sounds very similar to my problem. I'm at almost 8k miles now. Probably started around 5 or 6k. Getting my first oil change didn't make much difference. I'm leaning towards a PCV system issue.

this is disturbing. I do not want to smell oil on a brand new truck. (or any year truck) I already have a 15YO truck that I smell a slight whiff of antifreeze once in awhile!

Just wanted to drop a note to say I started noticing an oil smell a few days ago. It would occur just after I started the truck after it had been sitting for a while, and then would go away after a few minutes. The odor was like used oil, or a leaky PCV system. Anyway, after poking around under the hood, I found the oil filler cap was loose. Tightened it up, and the odor seems to have disappeared.

I wonder if it has to do with the engine being covered so well...normally the engine compartment gets ventalated pretty well but with all the covers in the G2, any smell could linger a while.

I just had my first oil change too - the smell is still there. I smell it outside the RL when it's in the garage, and I can smell it inside the car when I park and then go into a store for a few minutes. There must be something to this if multiple people are experiencing the same issue...

Has anybody on this thread had any resolution to the fumes in the cabin or the outgassing in the garage? We have parked our truck after 4 attempted repairs and no assurance from Honda that it is safe to drive.