Horrible smells in 2000 SLS

[K38chomponTHIS]

I've had my SLS with 93,000 miles on it for a couple months now, and I've been having these same reoccuring problems -
Whenever I push the engine hard (not often) for example like the suggested weekly "cleaning" or whatever you'd like to call it, where it shifts into OD, about 20 seconds after I do it (doesn't matter for how long), I get a horrible burning oil smell. I am 100% positive it is oil, and boy is it burning. No visible smoke though, and my engine does not "consume" oil like lots of N*s do. I find even if I don't push it hard, just a short drive around town, when I shut the engine off and get out of the car, the burning oil smell outside is bad. It seems like it only comes inside the cabin when I push it very hard and have the fan / A/C on.

The second smell has nothing to do with oil or (hopefully) the engine. When I run my heaters on high (above 80) after about 10-15 minutes I start to get this bad burning smell, like the type of smell from a paper or brush fire accurately describes it. If I turn the heaters down to 60-70, the burning smell goes away. Again, I see no smoke anywhere.

Could anybody please help with these? It's almost embarrassing to have people ride in my car cause half the time it smells like something is on fire.

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Ranger]

Sounds like oil may be dripping on the exhaust system. A visual inspection should lead you to the culprit.

Not sure about the "brush fire". Maybe the blower motor?

[Murphyg]

Mother inlaw had a smell like that. (like burning oil)
Turned out there was a plastic bag stuck underneath up round a hot pipe.
Was nasty.

The brush fire smell ??
Do you know if the car was stored for a period of time before you purchased it.
If so, something may have made a nest, and it is now slowly heating up.

Would check that out before it gets so dry that it ignites.

[1999STSCresskill]

Have you checked the cabin air filter? When I changed mine there were leaves and other debris trapped in the compartment. When it heats up it may be causing your brush fire smell.

[K38chomponTHIS]

I haven't checked the filter. Where is it at? How do you change it? Should I look anywhere else in the system to check for nests / other debris or just the filter?

[Ranger]

The filter is just above and to the right of the accelerator. You are in for a real treat.

[K38chomponTHIS]

so should I check anywhere else in the system? hoses, etc.? I popped the carpeted side panel off the center console and looked all around and up in there, but I'm not sure which thing the filter is? Behind a rubber hose about .5" thick, there was a gray box with wires "clipped" onto the top edge, and several screws or bolts holding the box up. Would this be it?

Thanks for the replies

[Ranger]

You are no where near it. There is a small flap (door) that has to be removed to slid the 3 (stacked) filter panels into. As I said, above and to the right of the accelerator.

[Cad tech]

find that oil smell yet???like a rear main seal leaking???

[1999STSCresskill]

I have a similar burnt oil smell in my '99 STS. It's usually only noticable when I run the car for a short time. I can only see some light smoke coming from the driver's side headlight area at night. It also leaves a stain on my driveway about the size of a quarter each time I park. I haven't taken the time to find where the oil is leaking from yet but when the weather warms up I'll be out there looking.

[K38chomponTHIS]

I was looking above and to the right of the pedal, sort of like almost up inside the center console where it goes under the dash.

As far as the oil smell, I talked to my friends dad who is a Caddy mechanic here in town, and he says that it sounds like the main seal is leaking, but to replace it you'd have to drop the engine out, and by the time it was fixed it would still be several thousand dollars just to replace. Even then, he still didn't know if that was the problem, since the engine does not leave any oil on the ground, and does not "consume" it.