Darren350 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Hey guys, Recently after a spirited jaunt in the 350 I noticed a burning smell coming from the drivers side somewhere. I thought it was the tyre but it isn't as I can drive 2 minutes slowly down the road and when I park up and get out the burning smell is still there. It seems when I drive the car faster the smell gets worse. I'm thinking clutch? The smell occurs every time I drive the car now. My next test will be to start the car and leave it running on the drive for 20 minutes to see if the smell happens even when the car isn't moving. That should narrow it down a bit more, right? The car has 117,000 with no evidence of clutch change so I allowed for this when buying the car. But I wanna know for definite. The clutch doesn't seem to slip though which is the odd thing. Looking underneath the car everything seems okay, nothing trapped etc... Advice and help appreciated thanks guys! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flex Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I think it's time you took it to a garage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Leaking Cam cover drivers side - had one last week - lovely burning oil smell when running it drips nicely onto the zorst manifold and fries up a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetSet Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 What type of smell? Oil, rubber, plastic, electrical, etc. Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I would be thinking cam cover of binding brake pads / calliper issue. Could be a few things so be get it checked out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 (edited) If I had a burning smell, I would take the fire extinguisher with me and drive slowly to see Ross at Japex, Maybe its just me but last time I had a burning smell the burning smell turned into flames and that was the end of my 911... Edited March 5, 2014 by WhackyWill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamdc2 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 If it is an 'eggy' smell then it could be your cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamdc2 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Cat converter....not meow cat. (Didnt want to offend you if you have cats! haha!) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock_Steady Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Leaking Cam cover drivers side - had one last week - lovely burning oil smell when running it drips nicely onto the zorst manifold and fries up a treat where my money would be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Leaking Cam cover drivers side - had one last week - lovely burning oil smell when running it drips nicely onto the zorst manifold and fries up a treat where my money would be Same, I had the same smell when my oil filler cap was broken, actually smelt like burning rubber/plastic rather than burning oil and it took about 2 weeks to clear the smell even after the issue was rectified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GIXXERUK Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Any work been done on the car lately ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Is this still the same issue as your other thread? http://www.350z-uk.c...ed-help-please/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren350 Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 Hey guys thanks for the help. It smells more like burning plastic or rubber than anything else? Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 As mentioned above try it at standstill that will rule out brakes and clutch (still think it's oil) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay-350z Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Possible the brake is dragging slightly. This happens a lot on the mx5s. Drive it with very little braking and see if one wheel is hotter that the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony.r123 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Possible the brake is dragging slightly. This happens a lot on the mx5s. Drive it with very little braking and see if one wheel is hotter that the other. My wife kept moaning about a burning smell from her Celica, i took it out for a spirited drive and when i got it back one of the wheels was hot. A dead give away, sticking brake caliper. But as Keyser say's let it run it stationary that will rule out brakes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren350 Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Thanks guys. I'm off tomorrow and have a few errands to run so will start the car a good 20 mins or so before I leave and have a sniff lol. Ebized yeah its the same issue. What I thought was tyre wear was actually gravel off the drive where I had just parked. But it could possibly still be brake related which is why I can smell it from that area. Will test tomorrow though. Assuming if I can smell it whilst it's stationary it's a leak of some sort. If I can't then it might be a brake problem or clutch problem etc. Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisS Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Ebized yeah its the same issue. Did you check 'all' the exhaust for plastic bags etc.?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock_Steady Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 You'll know if the brake is dragging or if the piston has seized in the caliper because it will be the dirtiest filthiest wheel out of the lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Ebized yeah its the same issue. Did you check 'all' the exhaust for plastic bags etc.?? Closing your previous thread then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren350 Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Yeah thanks mate. The car has been running outside for ten minutes now, going to give it another 10 then head out. Will post my results in an hour or so! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs2000 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Im also pretty sure its oil too. As I said, when mine was leeking onto the manifold it smelt like burning rubber/plastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren350 Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 Investigation time is over, lol. Left the car running for about 30 minutes from cold this morning and sure enough the smell was there. Quite powerful stink too! That rules out the clutch thankfully, also those calipers look expensive so I'm glad they are okay. What we guessing then guys, oil leak on drivers side cam cover leaking oil onto the exhaust manifold? I am about as mechanically minded as an orangutan so can't do nowt. Also the car is too low to view the entire exhaust system to see if a bag etc is trapped. Guess it's a trip to a local indy with a ramp then! Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R35LEE Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Looks like oil then. Ye get it looked at and keep checking your oil level if your using it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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