I have a 98 Legacy 2.5l (EJ25, N/A) wagon with about 42k miles on it (it sat in a garage for 2 years, 22k of that is in the last 2 years or so) and I suddenly have a nasty, acrid chemical smell coming from the car after it has been driven. It is not an oil or coolant smell, and all fluid levels (oil, coolant, transmission) seem to be optimal. The car isn't overheating or acting strange, it just puts out this really acrid, offensive smell after it is parked.

It isn't a "burning" smell; it smells slightly like overheating plastic, but not as "sweet." It also doesn't smell like clutch (4EAT) although I have little experience messing around with automatics. Could this be an A/C coolant leak? Or burning transmission fluid? I had the cam gasket seal replaced last year (it was leaking oil on the exhaust, a very nasty smell) but that has cleared up and was a very different odor. Any suggestions?

 

It literally could be burning plastic. Bags and other such road hazards get fused to hot exhaust pipes all the time. Other than that I really couldn't say without actually smelling it myself.

 

Yeah, it is pretty tough to describe a smell to someone else :-)

 

If you haven't done the obvious, just check your exhaust pipe and exhaust manifold all the way around to see if the is something on it like some fluid dripping on it.

 

well if it's been sitting in the garage for 2 years then you might want to check the engine crevices for furry creatures looking for a home...and when you went for a drive you probably cooked them and that could be the cause of the smell. just a thought since my friend found a mouse lodged in his bimmer.

--Sam