Burnt Clutch Smell

Mandingo · 01-25-2011, 05:34 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, 06:13 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, 07:04 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, 08:06 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, 08:26 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, 12:17 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.

01-25-2011, 05:34 PM	#1 (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 05:38 PM.

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01-25-2011, 06:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
steveg78 Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: MD Posts: 569 Drives: 09 370Z PG M6 +Sport Rep Power: 18	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, 07:04 PM	#3 (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, 08:06 PM	#4 (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, 08:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
Red__Zed A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: window seat Posts: 28,940 Drives: Mostly on two wheels Rep Power: 121	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, 12:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
AlphaSnacks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Windermere, FL Posts: 1,618 Drives: '13 XKR-S, '10 370Z Rep Power: 19	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.