I can smell oil...I think !

[Nicolas]

Had the car serviced last Saturday (2/10). Since then I have smelled an oil like odor coming into the car. I had the heat on. I haved looked under the hood several times, hoping to find whatever (not that I know what I'm looking for) but no sign of any leak or obvious dripping oil. Nothing on the ground either. I checked the oil and the level was fine, but the smell is definitely oil. Same thing happened on the way to work today, but the smell wasn't as strong.

Could oil have spilled onto something under the hood and is burning off and it will not be a problem? Or should I be taking it straight back to the garage?

[Deztroyer]

i suspect that they have indeed spilt some oil and filling her at service and what you can smell is the residue burning off - especially if the level remains the same and its not smoking and there isnt any patches appearing under the car

[ANDY W]

You havent said if your car is a petrol or deisel. My car is deisel and I get the same smell and infact always have but I have no leaks except once my fuel filter was leaking after a service and I knew something was wrong as the smell was different, it was a more sweet smell with a hint of Millers Sport 4 stuff.

[rushy]

My bet is they have spilt some oil, and it's run under the plastic engine cover, don't know how your 1.8's cover sits but if you spill oil on mine it goes under the coil pack so you never see it just smell it.

[Nicolas]

Apologies, it is a petrol 1.8.