Yeah, the smell is not coming through the HVAC and a "filter" cannot ameliorate the smell of petroleum products.

The cabin air filter is basically good for french fries and farts.

 

Same problem for me, too. The dealer changed the oil to RP at my 30k checkup and the smell was immediately apparent after the change. I figured it would go away, but about 3k or so miles later, it's still there.

~ Matt

 

So the question I have is, should I actually change oil over to RP if I am going to get this smell? I'm trying to gauge what percentage of people who have changed get this smell, and if they are doing anything different.

I would love to with the RP gear oil in that I already have, but not if its going to make my DD stink.

 

the smell gets stronger for me if i have the moonroof open and/or the A/C on "fresh..."

 

Same problem for me too. It started after the 30k checkup. My mechanic said he's had this problem in several other 8's, but doesn't know how to solve the problem. It seems to be coming from around the shifter.

 

For me there's definitely residue that's in my shift boot. I'm thinking about replacing my shift boot and seeing if that cures it.

 

here is the deal...

i changed mine sat. no spills except the little dribble that says its full....

i have put ~600 miles on it since... i am getting just a bit of gear oil smell if the windows are down at a stop...

gear oil is just that strong it will take a while to go away... royal purple or reg the smell is the same..

beers

 

I noticed that the smell gets worse as the tranny warms up. Here in MI the temps have been in the 'teens and 20s for the most part and I get the smell when I get on the freeway for a while but not before. I never really had any gripes with the factory fluid but I guess I'll next try the BG Synchroshift II and if that doesn't show definite benefits, I'll probably go back to the stock stuff.

 

WHERE THE HELL IS IT VENTING!?!

It really is driving me nuts. I can't figure it out.
It definitely seems to enter the cabin through the shifter area. On my car, it matters not if any windows are open or the ventilation is running in any mode.
It is more pronounced when it all gets hot, but the sweeping turns seem to really make it vent.

OEM oil stinks. Maybe not as much as the Redline, but it is NOT just an increased smell of the oil itself that is causing this.

 

Let me know what you think, but I have been very pleased.

i must say that, I too, have the smell sometimes while idling/sitting still. I think this is just inherent in the car when the trans vent is sitting very close to the shifter boot.

 

dude...i juss got my fluid changed and my car smells!!

my girlfriend was comin in my car and as soon as she opened my car door she was like, "WHATS THAT SMELL?!?! IT SMELLS FREAKNG NASTY"

hahah i do have to say that the smell is quite bad tho

 

I think the question is how do we seal up the MF so it is airtight between the cabin and the transmission. One poster in another thread said he used caulking around the rubber boot to take care of the problem.

 

I used hairspray last time, which did well, but next time I'll use red head gasket sealer/spray. Pretty tacky stuff that dries quickly. I don't know if that solves the problem but good sealing can't hurt.

 

Is it at all possible that the majority of us who are having this problem have, somehow, over-tightened the bolts that hold the plate to the rubber inner boot?

 

Question....Those people who have the problem and want to try a costly experiment, what happens if you change your transmision oil again but this time using OEM transmission oil? Does the smell go away?

Andrew

 

Take a look at post #58.

 

I think a poll should be started with options such as:

Yes it smells:
a) I poured it in through the shifter (even once)
b) I always use the fill plug and have never removed the shifter
c) I've replaced my shifter with a short throw
No it doesn't smell:
a) I poured it in through the shifter (even once)
b) I always use the fill plug and have never removed the shifter
c) I've replaced my shifter with a short throw

Eliminate one or some of the possibilities such as having popped out the shifter.

 

Mine smells -> Used drain/fill bolt, stock shifter, never opened up console before.

 

Well shizzle my nizzle then.

 

I didnt read it that way but I am guessing you are saying you have changed back to OEM Fluid and still have the probolem?

 

Here is my experience:

1st time transmission fluid changed, I did not have the smell. This applied:
b) I always use the fill plug and have never removed the shifter.

Now that I removed the shifter for flywheel install, the smell is around.

The difference from my 2 changes, was that the 2nd time i reused the crush washers on both fill/drain plugs. However, I believe the smell is slowly going away, or just very faint/noticible when a vent is open.

Goodbye!
Edgardo

 

Both times it was through the fill and drain plugs and both times I had fresh washers installed. There was no smell after the first time with Redline, but the second time with Royal Purple there was a smell. I put in 1.8 quarts the first time, but the second time it was more like 1.9.

 

i just took a bit of castoil super degreaser to the area of the overflow.

smell is gone. btw, poured slowly through the shifter.

beers

 

Thanks swoope. I plan to get underneath the car and Simple Green as much of the transmission housing as I can when I get back to the States. There's no paint on the housing so it should be okay right?

 

no paint is correct. but simple green will not do it.... gear oil is hard to get off...

beers