Interesting Smell
 

Hey guys, So I got my new 2014 FRS. I have noticed a slight rubbery smell occasionally. I am not sure if its the clutch or not. (I am new to manual driving) Can you guys let me know if this smell is the car breaking in or im still being too rough with the clutch.

Also, do you guys ride the clutch a bit if you are reversing slowly out of a spot or parking into a spot? Thanks!

When do you smell it? Is it after spirited driving or moments of high revs? This car gets a bit of smell when the coatings in the engine bay heat up, someone described it as "the smell of Subaru"

Clutch heat does not smell like rubber/rubbery as you say.

Clutch scent is more like Cat piss, slightly mixed with a Fishy essence.

New cars will have a bit of "cooking" to do, if you run them decent.

Thank goodness.
I think it might just be a break in smell. Its not very pungent. It doesnt make me wince or smell like cat piss lol.

I dont think I ride the clutch. Im making an effort to make sure im on the dead pedal whenever im not using the clutch. However, when I shift to first I do stay at the friction pt a little longer because i am new.

Thanks guys!

Break in smell. It happened to me to. Goes away in a week or so.

I still smell it after 6 months and almost 7000 miles. I guess they put an extra heavy coating of that crap on my engine!

Not about about the smell still sticking around after 6 months, but I picked up my two days ago. Yesterday I was a little worried about some smells - honestly I was also worried it was burnt clutch. I went to a local meet up last night and asked some guys there about it. They were all VERY reassuring that it was normal for the first few hundred km. I guess it's just part of the break-in period. I felt better. But I'll continue being very careful with my gear changes and not riding the clutch at lights, hills, etc.

Thanks guys! Good to know!

Its normal and it also depends on if they undercoated the car. Sometimes the coating gets on hot parts. I can smell/see a drizzle on my muffler from above. When I haul on it my buddies following say the exhaust really stinks. Thats normal since its all new.

I got that smell from 1k-5k km. I like to call it "real new car smell".

If it was after some moderately aggressive driving it was probably just the tires. Even if they aren't squealing they are still wearing.