Burning Smell from Engine Bay

clemson85

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I had a burning smell while driving home from the gym yesterday. I got home and opened the hood and the smell was above each turbo but I could not see any smoke of any kind. I can't remember If I had the recall done on the fuse box. I have a 2019 GTS. Any ideas? I am gonna drive it this morning and call my dealer if I smell it again. Also I have zero mods and only 8,500 miles on my car.
 
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Was it acrid like electronics letting out their magic smoke, or sweet like coolant, or a burning oil smell?
 
I think more of a burning oil smell.
 
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Update. I did have the recall performed in early 2021. I just checked and my coolant level is well below low. Anyone have coolant leaks? It would be easy for me to miss a leak since I park under a shed over the ground not the driveway. Anyone know what coolant works for our engines so I can add before I drive it to the dealer whenever they can schedule me in?
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
Prestone Platinum all vehicle or Prestone Asian green if you can find it.

These cars run HOT and the turbos like to burn off coolant, I check my coolant level every oil change (two so far) and have to top off some.

Also check the coolant hose clamps right above each turbo, I had to replace both of mine as they were leaking a little. Look for white powder like residue on the turbo.
 
Thank you all for the very helpful input. There are a lot of good people that own Stingers.
 
Prestone Platinum all vehicle or Prestone Asian green if you can find it.

These cars run HOT and the turbos like to burn off coolant, I check my coolant level every oil change (two so far) and have to top off some.

Also check the coolant hose clamps right above each turbo, I had to replace both of mine as they were leaking a little. Look for white powder like residue on the turbo.
See I also sometimes smell coolant in my engine bay (at least that’s what I think I’m smelling) which I’ve seen on these threads before. But I’ve never seen any leaks. I’ll have to see about that white powder residue you mentioned and see if I see any. I know I did have to refill my coolant but it wasn’t drastically low or anything.

Is there a reason our cars run so hot? Or is it just because of the turbos and it’s normal to run hot on turbo cars?
 
For some reason these cars (kia/hyundai) have a habit of venting some coolant vapors after running.


I have the same issue in mine (2.5T). I just keep an eye on the res level and add as needed. Usually its no more than a few oz to bring up to the full cold line. What you don't want to happen is for it to get too low. Then you're sucking in air into the cooling system after the car is cooling down following shut off.
 
For some reason these cars (kia/hyundai) have a habit of venting some coolant vapors after running.


I have the same issue in mine (2.5T). I just keep an eye on the res level and add as needed. Usually its no more than a few oz to bring up to the full cold line. What you don't want to happen is for it to get too low. Then you're sucking in air into the cooling system after the car is cooling down following shut off.
It still kills me that the guy running the parts dept at one of my local dealers said "It's just an overflow, you can let it go completely empty". o_O
 
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From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
It still kills me that the guy running the parts dept at one of my local dealers said "It's just an overflow, you can let it go completely empty". o_O
Get him on record stating that, then if it ever somehow overheats you just show them that.
What terrible advice from that guy.
 
Get him on record stating that, then if it ever somehow overheats you just show them that.
What terrible advice from that guy.
I believe I may still have the email he replied with. So yeah, if so, I have it in writing.
 
I've been having a burning smell over the past week or so... only thing I can see so far is this... That's on the other side of the oil filter

oil drip g70.webp
 
i have a weird smell as well. doesnt smell like oil or coolant almost like burnt plastic. every now and then ill smell it in the cabin and every so often after idling for a while after beating on it at the strip or on the street, a puff of white smoke that smells like it will come out the exhaust. im thinking it may be my primaries failing? not sure. still dives like the day i bought it though so i havent really worried about it
 
The slight coolant smell observed after driving is normal. The Stinger has a overflow tank that is vented to the atmosphere. Therefore the liquid in the tank will naturally vent off in the form of vapour when hot. This is enough to create the smell but obviously not enough to cause a drop in the coolant level.
 
From interior to exterior to high performance - everything you need for your Stinger awaits you...
The slight coolant smell observed after driving is normal. The Stinger has a overflow tank that is vented to the atmosphere. Therefore, liquid in the tank will naturally vent off as vapour when hot. This is enough to create a smell but obviously not enough to cause a drop in the coolant level.
 
The slight coolant smell observed after driving is normal. The Stinger has a overflow tank that is vented to the atmosphere. Therefore, liquid in the tank will naturally vent off as vapour when hot. This is enough to create a smell but obviously not enough to cause a drop in the coolant level.
I disagree with this. I've had to top off the level in the reservoir a few times now. Not much each time, but enough that combined would effectively result in the res being empty and allow the radiator to suck air in when cooling.

It's a stupid design not found on any other car i've ever owned.
 
Kia Stinger
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