Burnt Clutch Smell

Vegitto-kun · 04-15-2010, 07:55 AM

Well I used to hold the hand brake up and let the clutch go till I feel it pulling, slowly give it power and let go off the handbrake.

no rolling back, no burned clutch and no stalling

areyouin729 · 04-15-2010, 09:08 AM

when I first got my Z it was like this almost everytime I could smell it, now that it is somewhat broken in, around 3k miles...it doesn't do it daily anymore, not really sure why it does it, never did it on any of my other cars but not something I'm real worried about.

Zolfix · 04-15-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

In reality...you bought the car and immediately set aside 1500 for a new clutch? Is that because you figured you'd burn it out, or because you knew something was wrong?

Both... I tend to prepare for the worst.

I've read a lot of threads on smells and it seems like a lot of people smell something burning for a while after getting the car. Anyhow, going to get a pro look over my driving to see if I am doing it or not. Thanks for the comments.

Vegitto-kun · 04-15-2010, 09:30 AM

it IS you. the clutch wont start burning out on its own

MightyBobo · 04-16-2010, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegitto-kun

it IS you. the clutch wont start burning out on its own

Relax lol...the odds that it is him are good, but I wouldn't COMPLETELY discount the possibility that it is the car...

Draco · 04-17-2010, 08:01 PM

I experienced burnt clutch smell for the first couple hundred miles. Once I learned how to shift it better the smell went away. Some burnt clutch smell is normal the first week (according to the dealer) but after that it might be your technique. Might be good to have a more experienced driver drive it and see if they get the same smell at this point. If they do, then its time to talk to the dealer.

Burnt clutch in the Z smells like stale farts. Make sure your not eating Taco Bell before you drive, as the two are easily confused.

Mandingo · 01-25-2011, 06:34 PM

ok I'm resurrecting this here thread

I finished break in a while back and started doing some acceleration to about 5000 rpm in 1st,2nd,3rd. I am getting quite a bit of clutch smell.

I know what you're thinking and there truly is no way I'm slipping the clutch. The clutch pedal is barely in for any time at all and I don't give it gas again until my foot is completely off the clutch pedal (to test this out). I've driven manual for 9 years and never had this smelly problem.

Heres the scariest part for me. I smell burning when I accelerate hard in 2nd gear and then let off the gas and engine brake back down to a coast (no clutch pedal involved). Taking the car to dealership next week.

steveg78 · 01-25-2011, 07:13 PM

Just past break-in? I'd say it's probably the internals just getting their first workout. The car stinks for a while when you first get it. LITERALLY! You have your exhaust, and various engine and tranny parts getting up to hi temps and since your car is just a baby it's just part of your car becoming a beast

I'd wait it out a bit if I were you. Unless you FEEL something slipping in the clutch.

Mandingo · 01-25-2011, 08:04 PM

Makes me feel better to hear that! Yea it has about 1,500 miles.

I Haven't tried the 5th gear slippage test or anything so I'm not sure its slipping. I'm going to keep my eye on it because it still doesn't seem right.

Dreezy562 · 01-25-2011, 09:06 PM

mine kinda stinks too. i got about 1500. i can smell it it almost smells like rubber or something burning. i dont ride the clutch either lol this isnt my first rodeo

Red__Zed · 01-25-2011, 09:26 PM

It's probably the clutch still breaking in. It is fairly common. Mine stunk for a couple hundred miles past break in whenever I pushed it.

Most freshly installed clutches will stink for a little while-- it is normal and a part of break in. When I replaced the clutch on my Jeep, it took almost 1k for the smell to go away, but it was just a function of the clutch, and was apparently pretty standard for the brand I used.

You should avoid slipping the clutch, especially at higher RPMs, during the beginning of it's life. Hard driving doesn't cause issues-- slipping it does. I would take you start slow (no launching) for a few hundred more miles, and see if it goes away.

AlphaSnacks · 01-26-2011, 01:17 AM

I always wondered if the smell I get when I park is clutch or not. But someone described like a mix of burning rubber and stale fart...and that's not at all what I smell. Thank Goodness. :P

The smell my car makes is surprisingly soft, almost like fresh bread, but I think it's just the smell of the break-in process. My 350Z smelled and FX35 had a similar smell when they were new, and those were automatics. Hah.

04-17-2010, 08:01 PM	#36 (permalink)
Draco Base Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bay Area Posts: 12 Drives: 2010 370Z Manual Rep Power: 15	I experienced burnt clutch smell for the first couple hundred miles. Once I learned how to shift it better the smell went away. Some burnt clutch smell is normal the first week (according to the dealer) but after that it might be your technique. Might be good to have a more experienced driver drive it and see if they get the same smell at this point. If they do, then its time to talk to the dealer. Burnt clutch in the Z smells like stale farts. Make sure your not eating Taco Bell before you drive, as the two are easily confused. Last edited by Draco; 04-17-2010 at 08:04 PM.

01-25-2011, 06:34 PM	#37 (permalink)
Mandingo Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 625 Drives: '10 370z 6spd Rep Power: 3371	ok I'm resurrecting this here thread I finished break in a while back and started doing some acceleration to about 5000 rpm in 1st,2nd,3rd. I am getting quite a bit of clutch smell. I know what you're thinking and there truly is no way I'm slipping the clutch. The clutch pedal is barely in for any time at all and I don't give it gas again until my foot is completely off the clutch pedal (to test this out). I've driven manual for 9 years and never had this smelly problem. Heres the scariest part for me. I smell burning when I accelerate hard in 2nd gear and then let off the gas and engine brake back down to a coast (no clutch pedal involved). Taking the car to dealership next week. Last edited by Mandingo; 01-25-2011 at 06:38 PM.

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04-15-2010, 07:55 AM	#31 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 262	Well I used to hold the hand brake up and let the clutch go till I feel it pulling, slowly give it power and let go off the handbrake. no rolling back, no burned clutch and no stalling

04-15-2010, 09:08 AM	#32 (permalink)
areyouin729 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Conshohocken Age: 43 Posts: 301 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 17	when I first got my Z it was like this almost everytime I could smell it, now that it is somewhat broken in, around 3k miles...it doesn't do it daily anymore, not really sure why it does it, never did it on any of my other cars but not something I'm real worried about.

04-15-2010, 09:30 AM	#34 (permalink)
Vegitto-kun A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 2,011 Drives: 09 370Z Rep Power: 262	it IS you. the clutch wont start burning out on its own

01-25-2011, 07:13 PM	#38 (permalink)
steveg78 Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MD Posts: 569 Drives: 09 370Z PG M6 +Sport Rep Power: 17	Just past break-in? I'd say it's probably the internals just getting their first workout. The car stinks for a while when you first get it. LITERALLY! You have your exhaust, and various engine and tranny parts getting up to hi temps and since your car is just a baby it's just part of your car becoming a beast I'd wait it out a bit if I were you. Unless you FEEL something slipping in the clutch.

01-25-2011, 08:04 PM	#39 (permalink)
Mandingo Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 625 Drives: '10 370z 6spd Rep Power: 3371	Makes me feel better to hear that! Yea it has about 1,500 miles. I Haven't tried the 5th gear slippage test or anything so I'm not sure its slipping. I'm going to keep my eye on it because it still doesn't seem right.

01-25-2011, 09:06 PM	#40 (permalink)
Dreezy562 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Long beach, ca Posts: 419 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 15	mine kinda stinks too. i got about 1500. i can smell it it almost smells like rubber or something burning. i dont ride the clutch either lol this isnt my first rodeo

01-25-2011, 09:26 PM	#41 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 120	It's probably the clutch still breaking in. It is fairly common. Mine stunk for a couple hundred miles past break in whenever I pushed it. Most freshly installed clutches will stink for a little while-- it is normal and a part of break in. When I replaced the clutch on my Jeep, it took almost 1k for the smell to go away, but it was just a function of the clutch, and was apparently pretty standard for the brand I used. You should avoid slipping the clutch, especially at higher RPMs, during the beginning of it's life. Hard driving doesn't cause issues-- slipping it does. I would take you start slow (no launching) for a few hundred more miles, and see if it goes away.

01-26-2011, 01:17 AM	#42 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 18	I always wondered if the smell I get when I park is clutch or not. But someone described like a mix of burning rubber and stale fart...and that's not at all what I smell. Thank Goodness. :P The smell my car makes is surprisingly soft, almost like fresh bread, but I think it's just the smell of the break-in process. My 350Z smelled and FX35 had a similar smell when they were new, and those were automatics. Hah.