I have a 2000 camry with 80000 miles on it. Recently when my car sits idling waiting for the light I can smell a burning smell. Kind of smell when your car is hot but when I look at the temp it looks normal. This just happens more frequently. Thanks.

 

Does it smell like burning oil or evaporating coolant?

 

smells like my radiator is hot. btw it is an xl . I checked my oil and it needed about 3/4 quart of oil. I just changed the oil this sunday after a year of not changing it but the car was not driven a lot. I might haved logged in about 5000 miles on it last year.

 

What engine 4 cylinder or V6.

Look for signs of coolant on the plastic air shield below the radiator, look down between the radiator and engine.

Check the coolant hoses, even the ones hidden and hard to reach. When the engine is cold feel the hoses for coolant leaks, some such at the bypass hose can be very difficult to see, use your hands to feel around.

Look at the passengers side of the engine below the timing belt for coolant leaks.

The upper and lower tanks on the radiator are plastic and crack and start to leak.

 

It could also be the catalytic converter... they stink too when they go bad. Could smell like rotten eggs.

 

Its not a rotten egg smell but a burning smell