Burning Smell Returns

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 10:03 AM

The past few days I've noticed a burning smell from the engine bay when I turn the car off. Just now I went to the gas station after a 20 min drive from work on the highway, turned the car off to fill up, and when I restarted the car there was a distinct, burning clutch-ish smell in the car. I've smelled the same thing when getting home and turning off the car over the past week. It's similar to the smell we had when the car was brand new and burning off the excess oils and breaking in the clutch.

Investigating further, it smells like it's coming from the back of the engine bay. The clutch is top on my differential but I'm no expert on this either. I have a 6MT and it seems to be shifting just fine, no grinding, easy gear changes...

Anyone have ideas?

SmoothZ · 12-13-2009, 10:37 AM

Are you sure nothing is leaking? Where you park normally, is there any fluid on the ground? I'd take the underpanel off and look around to locate anything unusual.

j.arnaldo · 12-13-2009, 11:11 AM

G'luck, man. Post here whatever you find out for our benefit. Thanks.

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmoothZ

Are you sure nothing is leaking? Where you park normally, is there any fluid on the ground? I'd take the underpanel off and look around to locate anything unusual.

No puddles or drips on the ground. I've also inspected inside the engine bay with a flashlight and don't see anything leaking or pooling on the plastic underbody.

kenchan · 12-13-2009, 12:59 PM

Yah, I posted somewhere that when I topped off the oil it started smelling again.
I'm going to keep the oil level around 3/4 mark between the dots on the dipstick from now on. At that level no smell.

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 01:01 PM

I'm at about 2/3 level. Haven't noticed any relation.

vortrex · 12-13-2009, 02:21 PM

I still have this at 1400 miles.

jbbrann · 12-13-2009, 02:27 PM

Has it been raining there lately? I've noticed the smell a few times after driving in the rain and I've come to the conclusion that it is road grime burning off the exhaust.

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbbrann

Has it been raining there lately? I've noticed the smell a few times after driving in the rain and I've come to the conclusion that it is road grime burning off the exhaust.

That could be a possibility. We've had snow followed by on/off wet streets and drizzle. It was wet again today and the damp roads lead to road salt caked over the entire car. Road grime on the hot cats could be it.

kannibul · 12-13-2009, 03:35 PM

brake pads?

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 07:45 PM

Not the brakes. All four corners pass the sniff test.

Took the baby to a local self-wash and sprayed it down with some soap and rinsed everything (including undercarriage). Smell is, for all intents and purposes, gone now.

I'm guessing it's just road salt cooking on the catalytic converters but we'll see how things go over the next few days.

SmoothZ · 12-13-2009, 08:56 PM

I know how to cure your problem. Store the car over the winter....

dad · 12-13-2009, 08:57 PM

How about a "melted plastic shopping bag", or what's left of it, on the cats?

spearfish25 · 12-13-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad

How about a "melted plastic shopping bag", or what's left of it, on the cats?

LOL, I read about that. I can't see that far under the car but I suppose it's possible. I've sucked a few up on the highway but I watch like crazy to make sure they come out the back.

bradz · 12-13-2009, 10:33 PM

Maybe you are shifting too high? And your burning the clutch?

12-13-2009, 10:03 AM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Burning Smell Returns The past few days I've noticed a burning smell from the engine bay when I turn the car off. Just now I went to the gas station after a 20 min drive from work on the highway, turned the car off to fill up, and when I restarted the car there was a distinct, burning clutch-ish smell in the car. I've smelled the same thing when getting home and turning off the car over the past week. It's similar to the smell we had when the car was brand new and burning off the excess oils and breaking in the clutch. Investigating further, it smells like it's coming from the back of the engine bay. The clutch is top on my differential but I'm no expert on this either. I have a 6MT and it seems to be shifting just fine, no grinding, easy gear changes... Anyone have ideas? __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-13-2009, 10:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
SmoothZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arrakis Posts: 7,952 Drives: giant sandworm Rep Power: 36	Are you sure nothing is leaking? Where you park normally, is there any fluid on the ground? I'd take the underpanel off and look around to locate anything unusual. __________________ "Once you go Asian, you never go Caucasian." "I talk to myself, and when I do that, I know I'm talking to an intelligent person."

12-13-2009, 01:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'm at about 2/3 level. Haven't noticed any relation. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-13-2009, 07:45 PM	#11 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Not the brakes. All four corners pass the sniff test. Took the baby to a local self-wash and sprayed it down with some soap and rinsed everything (including undercarriage). Smell is, for all intents and purposes, gone now. I'm guessing it's just road salt cooking on the catalytic converters but we'll see how things go over the next few days. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-13-2009, 08:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
SmoothZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arrakis Posts: 7,952 Drives: giant sandworm Rep Power: 36	I know how to cure your problem. Store the car over the winter.... __________________ "Once you go Asian, you never go Caucasian." "I talk to myself, and when I do that, I know I'm talking to an intelligent person."

12-13-2009, 11:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
j.arnaldo Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 937 Drives: Nissan 350Z, 2004 Rep Power: 0	G'luck, man. Post here whatever you find out for our benefit. Thanks.

12-13-2009, 12:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	Yah, I posted somewhere that when I topped off the oil it started smelling again. I'm going to keep the oil level around 3/4 mark between the dots on the dipstick from now on. At that level no smell.

12-13-2009, 02:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
vortrex Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SF, CA Posts: 199 Drives: '09 370z 6spd Rep Power: 16	I still have this at 1400 miles.

12-13-2009, 02:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
jbbrann Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 68 Drives: 09 370Z Sport Rep Power: 280	Has it been raining there lately? I've noticed the smell a few times after driving in the rain and I've come to the conclusion that it is road grime burning off the exhaust.

12-13-2009, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
kannibul A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jenks, OK Posts: 2,281 Drives: 370z Touring/Sport Rep Power: 267	brake pads?

12-13-2009, 08:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
dad Grand Prix of Endurance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 3,476 Drives: Mulsanne Straight Rep Power: 26	How about a "melted plastic shopping bag", or what's left of it, on the cats?

12-13-2009, 10:33 PM	#15 (permalink)
bradz Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pinellas County Florida Posts: 348 Drives: 09' 370z MB 6spd Rep Power: 16	Maybe you are shifting too high? And your burning the clutch?

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