Interesting Smell - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

oppiee · 04-18-2014, 04:31 PM

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!

krayzie · 04-18-2014, 05:48 PM

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56113

chc36 · 04-18-2014, 05:56 PM

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"

Floggin Tires · 04-18-2014, 06:01 PM

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.

oppiee · 04-18-2014, 06:05 PM

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!

DAEMANO · 04-18-2014, 06:07 PM

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

BirdTRD · 04-18-2014, 06:15 PM

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!

PNA · 04-19-2014, 10:18 AM

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.

oppiee · 04-19-2014, 11:34 AM

Thanks guys! Good to know!

Alak · 04-19-2014, 01:17 PM

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.

Kazuya · 04-19-2014, 02:25 PM

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

nocwage · 04-19-2014, 10:14 PM

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

04-18-2014, 04:31 PM	#1
oppiee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Scion FRS (Red) Location: Toronto Posts: 149 Thanks: 15 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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!

04-18-2014, 06:01 PM	#4
Floggin Tires Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Drives: ZC6, Junk of ALL sorts Location: Ohio Posts: 516 Thanks: 111 Thanked 288 Times in 171 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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. __________________ # 1. Always know where your towel is. ZC6-CBS, is home

04-19-2014, 01:17 PM	#10
Alak Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2014 FR-S Monogram Location: Canada Posts: 22 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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. __________________ Calgary, Canada 2014 FR-S Monogram 1988 Mazda RX7 10AE ~ Fully Built and Ridiculous 2006 F350 Diesel ~ 500HP or something like that.

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04-18-2014, 05:48 PM	#2
krayzie Drive From Home Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: BRZ STI Performance Location: Filth City Posts: 4,912 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 3,111 Times in 2,007 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56113

04-18-2014, 05:56 PM	#3
chc36 Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2013 FR-S Ultramarine Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 60 Thanks: 2 Thanked 22 Times in 13 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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"

04-18-2014, 06:05 PM	#5
oppiee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Scion FRS (Red) Location: Toronto Posts: 149 Thanks: 15 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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!

04-19-2014, 10:18 AM	#8
PNA Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Drives: 2013 BRZ Sport-tech Location: Ottawa Posts: 60 Thanks: 0 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

04-19-2014, 11:34 AM	#9
oppiee Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Scion FRS (Red) Location: Toronto Posts: 149 Thanks: 15 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Thanks guys! Good to know!

04-19-2014, 02:25 PM	#11
Kazuya Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: Takumi Location: 401 Posts: 577 Thanks: 192 Thanked 310 Times in 153 Posts Mentioned: 12 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	I got that smell from 1k-5k km. I like to call it "real new car smell".

04-19-2014, 10:14 PM	#12
nocwage MMTT Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: 2019 Subaru BRZ Location: Ontario Posts: 130 Thanks: 7 Thanked 44 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If it was after some moderately aggressive driving it was probably just the tires. Even if they aren't squealing they are still wearing.

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