re: 91 200 tq

[Phil Rose <pjrose@servtech.com>]

>Date: Fri, 12 Mar 1999 13:34:32 -0600
>From: "John Heath" <JOHNHEATH@worldnet.att.net>
>Subject: 91 200 tq
>
>I have had a situation which is back and getting worse.  Whenever I sit with
>the engine idling, warm car, I am getting a strong burning oil smell.  No
>smoke, no obvious leaks, I've looked, mechanics have looked, etc.  No
>visible leak, vacuum hose behind the block replaced, the branching one, and
>I thought it was fixed but now it's back.
>Has any one experienced this?  Any ideas?  The car has 70K, runs well, oil
>use is less than 2/3 quart in 2500 miles.
>Next thing is that when I am sitting and I turn the wheel hard right, it
>feels that at certain points I have no PS.  Never noticed this driving.  The
>rack was replaced at 47K.  Any connection here?  Pentosin level is fine, no
>obvious loss.
>
>I look forward to any responses.
>
>John Heath

In my '91 200q, the burning oil odor turned out to be tranny oil, first
leaking from the passenger-side final drive seal (onto the exhaust pipe and
cat.) and later from a leaking input-shaft oil seal. These leaks eventually
put a fair amount of oil under the tranny, on the top of the tranny, rear
of the engine and on some other components  (like steering rack belows and
even the steering damper). But those things would not be related to your
steering symptom.

Check your tranny oil level, although it could take a while before it is
noticably low.


Phil Rose				Rochester, NY
'91 200q				mailto:pjrose@servtech.com
'89 100