What’s that smell?

[S Cobb]

Running 90mph today on the interstate and stomped it a couple times up to 110. Then I had a smell like burnt brakes or carbon type smell. Not paint or electrical. Is that the turbos? Parked in the garage when I got home. Still smelled it a little and I’ve smelled it before with I ran it hard. But on the interstate I could smell it in the cabin. Got 1100 miles

 

[Malpheus]

Interested here too. I get it when I punch it hard at low speeds too.

 

[S Cobb]

I got some replies on Facebook. Seems to be normal in the beginning.

 

[Mrwaug]

I smell it too. I believe it is exhaust system gaskets and seals off gassing. It should dissipate over time.

 

[Adrenalinejunky]

Yup, noted same after quick wot to 115.

 

[BlackJaxST]

Like others have noted, I've noticed the same smell after some hard pulls. I have not been noticing it as much as the ST breaks in.

 

[Malpheus]

I took mine in and gave the description that it gives that smell after 5500 rpm and they took it for a ride telling me all was well... reading the paperwork they said "we got it up to 55 mph and smelled nothing"... haven't had the heart to go back in and have the pay attention talk with the deer in the headlights staff.

 

[Kevin 1456]

its all part of a new car, the cats makes weird smells from the exhaust when they are brand new. also the seals are offgassing, brakes setting in, manufacturing lubricants burning off.
enjoy it while it lasts, it just means your car is new. once the smell is gone, its an old car

 

[F=MA]

Each time I do some spirited driving a woft of smelly exhaust follows the vehicle if you stop and open the window. I tell my wife it smells like the coffee she brews each morning Skunky! I remember 10 or 20 years ago when you would occasionally get behind a vehicle and you swear they were burning garbage for fuel? Does the higher ethanol fuel exhaust smell different than the regular low or none ethanol fuel exhaust?

 

[KNTRDR]

Not to rehash an old thread, but:

Does anyone continue to have the smell even after the car is well and truly broken in? I’m at around 16000km, aka 10000 miles, and I still get a whiff of what basically smells of a mix of burning wood, paper, and garbage after a decent run on the highway (140kph / 85mph ish for 50-75km / 30-50ish miles). Happens as soon as I am coming to a stop at the offramp or just slowing down sufficiently.

 

[kkriskal]

Not to rehash an old thread, but:

Does anyone continue to have the smell even after the car is well and truly broken in? I’m at around 16000km, aka 10000 miles, and I still get a whiff of what basically smells of a mix of burning wood, paper, and garbage after a decent run on the highway (140kph / 85mph ish for 50-75km / 30-50ish miles). Happens as soon as I am coming to a stop at the offramp or just slowing down sufficiently.

Have you been getting this smell from day one? I don't have as many miles as yours but I just did a 400+ miles round trip and I don't remember noticing any funny smell when I got back. Are you running winter tires or something? Just curious.

 

[JohnE]

I’m at 4,000 miles and I still get it after getting on it hard but not nearly as much as I did before. I just had new exhaust tips put on so the dump downs (fake tips) are gone so the exhaust comes straight out now. I believe I smell it more after putting on the new tips too. The low pressure area right behind the car is very pronounced and I believe that’s the reason they designed the tips the way they did; to keep exhaust from entering a non perfectly sealed rear hatch. Since putting on the new tips, I can really the condensation vapor swirling around the back when it’s cold....even at a good speed like 40-50 I see it swirling around where I didn’t with the stock tips.

 

[KNTRDR]

Have you been getting this smell from day one? I don't have as many miles as yours but I just did a 400+ miles round trip and I don't remember noticing any funny smell when I got back. Are you running winter tires or something? Just curious.

Winter tires yes. I honestly can’t say how long I’ve been noticing it...I think it’s been longer than that though. I noticed it on the highway after a couple stomps while I was still moving though. It doesn’t smell like burning rubber.

 

[KNTRDR]

I’m at 4,000 miles and I still get it after getting on it hard but not nearly as much as I did before. I just had new exhaust tips put on so the dump downs (fake tips) are gone so the exhaust comes straight out now. I believe I smell it more after putting on the new tips too. The low pressure area right behind the car is very pronounced and I believe that’s the reason they designed the tips the way they did; to keep exhaust from entering a non perfectly sealed rear hatch. Since putting on the new tips, I can really the condensation vapor swirling around the back when it’s cold....even at a good speed like 40-50 I see it swirling around where I didn’t with the stock tips.

I’ve been trying to decide if it’s coming from the back, or maybe from the front and it’s getting sucked up through the vents. There is definitely a dead-air zone behind the car, clearly illustrated by the amount of dirt that collects on the tailgate.

 

[kkriskal]

Winter tires yes. I honestly can’t say how long I’ve been noticing it...I think it’s been longer than that though. I noticed it on the highway after a couple stomps while I was still moving though. It doesn’t smell like burning rubber.

One of office friend used to come to the office parking lot with his brand new car smelling like garbage, we used to make fun of him. After breaking his head for several weeks, he swapped back to the all season tires and the smell was gone instantly. Turns out, running certain winter tires on dry pavement and in Not so cold conditions make it smell like trash. That's why I was asking, your problem might be different but might be worth a shot before you explore other things in the car. At least you would have eliminated one thing if the tires are not the problem.

 

[F=MA]

One sure way to know is park it outside overnight and then check the area in the morning for racoon crap

 

[Scott G]

During the first 500 miles when I punched it for a few seconds it almost smelled like the engine was on fire. We pulled over a couple times and popped the hood. After 2000 miles the smell is no longer. My guess something burning off but now is gone.

 

[KNTRDR]

One of office friend used to come to the office parking lot with his brand new car smelling like garbage, we used to make fun of him. After breaking his head for several weeks, he swapped back to the all season tires and the smell was gone instantly. Turns out, running certain winter tires on dry pavement and in Not so cold conditions make it smell like trash. That's why I was asking, your problem might be different but might be worth a shot before you explore other things in the car. At least you would have eliminated one thing if the tires are not the problem.

Interesting. Never heard of that before. I’ll keep that in mind. The good news is it only lasts a few minutes so whatever it is isn’t serious but I’d sure like to solve it. Thanks for the idea

 

[kkriskal]

One sure way to know is park it outside overnight and then check the area in the morning for racoon crap

ha ha

 

[Zermus]

LOL has nobody raced a turbo car here before? That's your turbos getting red hot and burning up whatever shit has accumulated inside them that can burn. Yeah you go yo yo with the throttle at the high end 80+ speeds and that's what happens. It's normal. They're made to get that hot.

That's actually my biggest gripe about turbos though. The high end 80+ punching it, that lag there is so fucking annoying. A supercharged car will get a good distance on you during that lag. A full motor bigass v8 will just leave you there. That can be fixed by using different kinds of turbos, but you have to build your turbo system for it, and ours is certainly not designed to cover for that lol.