This morning I was on my way to the office, which includes an approximately 10 mile drive on the highway (so, 65mph). When I got off at my exit and stopped at a stoplight a block later, I noticed the car started to smell like burning. It didn't smell like oil, and it was not sulfur. It was windy, and although it was -15 degrees out, I saw quite a bit more exhaust drifting around the car than I expected (Yep, something was burning). Anyways, when I got to work, the exhaust coming out at idle did not smell like usual catless exhaust, and there is a bit of yellow liquid draining out. Any thoughts on what I should check out or what it could be? The car is a 2011 STi with a catless downpipe. It was too cold, so the car was just at cruising speeds with the cruise control on.
Yellow discharge...sounds like an STi. That is something that i've never heard of Ryan. Do you have any other info? What was the smell like(sweet/sour/burnt)? It's wierd, the pic reminds me of sulfur.
Wow, I missed a perfectly good opportunity to name this thread "Help! Yellow Discharge From My STi!". I'm sorry for letting everyone down. It was more of a burning smell than sweet. I found another thread earlier about someone's WRX having a frozen PCV, so that should be easy to check since mine is sitting near my IC for my AOS. The car was parked in my garage all night (at about 20 degrees), and I've let it sit outside all day during previous very cold temperature days without issue.
Looks like oil + condensation. Condensation is expected (in general, but moreso with the catless exhaust). I'd inspect the (potential) oil part of it for sure though. Frozen condensation via your aos could be a possibility depending on routing. Turbo seal is another. Oil getting past your rings or through the exhaust valves is another. Start with the easy ones of course (aos then turbo).
i have read it could be sulfur dioxide. due to cold weather additives in the gasoline could be more pronounced.
It looks exactly like the **** that builds up in AOS (oil + condensation) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1864620 Follow idget's advice on course of action. Hopefully just the cold and not something bad.
Time to make the drive home - I'll take a much longer route. Hopefully tonight I can get to looking at the AOS again.
