Slight smell when revving high
 

Hi guys,

New here, and new to the FR-S as well (only had mine for a few weeks now). It's really great to drive, despite the whole learning a manual but that's a different story...

So my car knowledge is abysmal, never drove anything besides a camry and an old minivan until I got this - commence laughter now!

The question: is it normal to have a slightly..."hot" (not what I would call "burning") smell if I'm being aggressive and shifting at ~7k rpm? It doesn't happen all the time and goes away in <10-15 seconds, but I don't know if it should cause any concern.

Nothing feels wrong with the car but again my knowledge is sorely lacking. We have to start somewhere right?! Thanks for any help.

Read the manual. Keep it below 4k for the first 1000 miles. Or if you prefer the other method… Search the forum. You will find lots of info on this.

does it smell like burning clutch, or burning oil?

could have a leak from your cam plate. Check the rear pass side of the engine unless you're auto then disregard.

Could be new engine burning shit off

Hi Jakecrow and welcome ..... http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/wave.gif

As mentioned, hopefully you have over 4,000 miles on your machine before revving up that high.

The smell could just be the engine burning off the last of the "newness" while at high temperatures. However, you may wish to look around for any oil leaks.


humfrz

I got a strong burning smell during my first 5k miles. It's stuff near the exhaust burning off something.

Thanks for the replies! Sorry I should have mentioned - it's at almost 30k miles so it shouldn't be anything related to it being new I assume.

I've no idea what burning clutch smells like, but it's definitely not burning oil.

Are you slipping the clutch? Meaning, is your left foot pushing on the clutch at all once you are fully engaged (in gear)? Are you feathering the clutch and holding it partially engaged while you rev the shit out of it (and is it immediately after you do this that you smell burning?)

I may have to experiment a bit more and get a more accurate description, but I'm certainly not aiming to slip it. I probably am a little bit though as manual is still new to me.

It is immediately after a high rev, but again it doesn't happen all the time. It's possible I'm doing something different (slipping or not shifting quickly enough?) when this happens but I haven't noticed anything different when it happened, besides the smell obviously.

I should also point out that this is not at all how I drive around town, it's just something to do for fun once in a while when no one else is on the road and I want to push the car a bit.

Thanks again for the replies.

Well, in that case, you might want to check that cam plate that @samisons spoke of, to make sure it's not leaking.

A burning clutch smells like ....... well, like a burning clutch ...... hmmmm, sorta like a burning leather belt after your Pop gave you a blistering ..... or a flat, leather drive belt on an old corn grinder that got jammed ..... sorry, I'm getting further away .....http://www.runemasterstudios.com/gra...mages/sigh.gif


humfrz

pepperoni

Mine often gives a burning smell whenever I keep the revs high for a while, in fact just this morning I got it. I chuck it down to being normal, since my car has 15K+ miles already.

Alright, thanks. I'll look into checking the cam plate and see if I can find any leak. Hopefully it's nothing serious though :)

Revv the car for a second at a stop with the clutch depressed, and compare the smells, they are probably the same :thumbsup:

My car does this often. I take an on ramp that goes up a long and steep hill to get into San Francisco. My car smells a little funny almost everyday. My car just creeped over 10k miles.

My car did this for the first 10k miles. I'm at 25k now and haven't smelt it in a while.

For the first 10k miles, after spirited driving, mine smelled like burning rubber, but not exactly, not quite an oil smell either. Not the clutch since I have a AT and not brakes as they have a unique smell of their own. I'm told it may have been a substance called Cosmoline, that is sprayed on the car as a rust inhibitor that is burning off. I haven't notices it an several months so I guess my car is not new anymore. :cry:

Sometimes I also got this unique smell after some spirited drive.
I am not sure whether this is clutch, brakes, tires or from the engine.

The smell is a bit light and as far as I remember nothing like clutch burnt smell.

Used to get a weird smell every once in a while for no apparent reason. After I did the sound tube delete never smelt it again. Coincidence, maybe, but the timing was spot on.

Have not had a chance to check the cam plate yet, but you're right the smell (if it happens) is the same when I do this.

I got a weird smell the other day after eating a can of Silverado beef chilli for lunch. Opened the windows and it went away.

I get a similar odour but use a different brand of chili! Wonder if there is a higher grade that will prevent the problem????? I found that you do have to open both windows though and be VERY sure to turn the A/C recirculate off or it just sticks around!
Wonder if there is a TSB out on this yet as sooo many people are likely having this same issue.

Had the recirc on and the power window override set to lock recently when my wife threatened divorce!!

You sir are a brave, BRAVE man and I bow to you!

30k miles sounds like clutch slipping. engine rotation at 7k is really fast with your tires gripping the ground resulting in more force needing to turn your drivetrain at higher rotational speed.

at 30k miles i'd upgrade the clutch. unless you got 400hp and you're burning tires. =D


if not then its cam plate. cam plate is easy $100 fix/upgrade.

im at 20,000 Miles.. when i race it and rev high, it has a hot smell or a slight burning smell.
I used to do the same in my 98 Civic with 190,000miles. everytime i run up the RPMS it releases the same hot/ burn smell