I have an issue when starting from a warm engine after for example shopping trip I get a waft smell of warm oil from the ventilation system .
Its not all the time took it to Fiat but the could not find the problem Its smells like oil vapour . Has any one else had the issue Fiat told me they contacted head Tech office UK and they could not help . Don't get it with recirculation selected

Back to basic with this: (no offence meant just a path of possible elimination)

1) No issue when on recirculate. This 90% points to and engine compartment issue

2) Engine warm - warmth equals increased evaporation. What warms up? Engine itself, exhaust system, turbo and air paths

3) Given 2) we are looking for excess oil/contaminants lying on hot surfaces OR possibly a leaky (oil) turbo with external oil or oil vapour being pushed into the intake system (intercooler through to intake manifold) leaking out via a spilt/fractured component

4) There are other oil vapour paths (engine block vapour recovery being one example) that could be at fault.

I could add more but the bottom line is that there is a "source" (most evident when warm/hot) and seems to be confined to the engine compartment/external breathing routes.

Final point is that when warm and driving vapours will get wafted/distributed continually whilst driving. Come to a halt these fumes will potentially gather (become localised) and then when you then start up get blown into the car. Read accumulated containments that would otherwise possible be not detectable or "tuned" out.

Hi Well took the cover off the top f the motor no signs of any oil but when I took out the pollen filter its black and smells of oil had the bonnet up stop started when warm but no obvious sources Will be taking it back to Fiat and will show them the filter as you say must be coming from some point in the engine bay will get a air quality monitor and take some readings proof before I take it in .

So where was the pollen filter? Up behind the passenger glove box? (which you had to remove?)

Only ask as I've not yet had to go looking for mine

s130 said:

So where was the pollen filter? Up behind the passenger glove box? (which you had to remove?)

Only ask as I've not yet had to go looking for mine

Click to expand...

Yep up behind glove box watch out for the clips on glove box break easy

I had the same oil smell in the cabin of my 500s twinair 105, then I had a puddle of oil on the drive. Cause was a leak from oil cooler trickling down the back of the engine and onto hot bits.

I've been experiencing this since new on my 500x 1.4 petrol auto and, so far, dealer checks have found nothing wrong. I suggested that the pollen filter should be inspected. Had a loan car (500x 4x4 diesel 8 spd auto) while mine was stuck in the workshop, no smell at all.
Conditions when it occurs:-
Hot start after being stationary for 30 to 45 minutes at the most. Longer than that, no smell. When Recirc is engaged - no smell.
It's definitely an oil smell - not exhaust.

Hi have they found the issue yet as mine has not been found thanks

Hi, I appreciate the last post was 18 months ago regarding this so you guys may have sorted the issue or no longer have the cars, however a couple of us in the Tipo forum have had the same issue with the 1.4 T-Jet petrol engine (oil smell in the cabin when starting from warm) and we solved the issue by replacing the o-ring that the oil vapour separator/segregator is attached to the engine rocker cover with, perhaps worth a shot to investigate.

https://www.fiatforum.com/tipo-ii/475032-oil-smell-warm-start-1-4-t-jet.html