Engine smells like something is burning?

B-RAD2, My name is Ernest and I'll be glad to assist you. However, I can't say for certain without more details or having a look myself, But the age of your vehicle would suggest some kind of leaking fluid (coolant/oil/transmission) onto a hot part such as exhaust manifold, cat-converter or exhaust pipe. A slow leak wouldn't necessarily affect engine temperatures.

If it smells kind of sweet, then it's coolant. If it smells like burning rubber, then it's oil or transmission fluid.

Is there any fluid leaking onto the ground after the car is parked for a while? If it's transparent with a slight green or orange tint, it's coolant. If it's thick and dirty brown or black, it's oil. Transmission fluid can be dark if it's old, or a reddish tint if it's relatively new.

If you can take a peep under the vehicle, you should easily be able to see shiny wetness somewhere on the parts.

Another possible cause is the engine burning oil through the exhaust. This won't affect engine temps either, and is just a sign that your engine is getting old. If you occasionally have to top off the oil, but you can't find any oil leaks on the ground or under the car, then it means the oil is being burned inside of the engine and going out of the tail pipes. The only fix for this is a rebuild or replacement.

If this information helps locate the source of your smell and you need assistance making a fix, reach back out to us and we'd be glad to help.

Thank you, identified a leak from my valve cover.

ERNESTCLARK93 is one of our best! Thanks for letting us know, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.