Got my 2009 SS a few days ago.. First car I have had that is manual. Learning how to drive a stick.. Im picking it up fast for the most part. Hardest thing is inclines at this point... and not burning the clutch out on them and what not.

Im still letting the clutch out slow like a granny.. getting better at letting it out right to the friction point and going from there.

I don't want to sound like an over-protective parent or something... but is it normal for brand new engines to give off a burning smell after a few hours of driving? Kinda smells like burnt rubber.. coming from engine bay. Im just wondering if I am burning the clutch up allready or not. I have not grinded at all .. have stalled more than I can count on 2 hands however..(always from a stop in 1st gear).. Kinda messed up on an incline.. might have burnt the clutch a bit... hopefully not to much.

But yeah.. those smells have me worried... Part of me thinks its normal... brand new engine being broken in.... part of me dreads the thought that the smell is my clutch and not some belts and **** being broke in.

Any thoughts?

PS- Its not my brakes... coming from engine bay.

 

Mine had a smell For the first few hundred miles or so similar to what you are saying. i wouldn't worry about it. The clutch has a very distinct smell.

 

Can you describe what a clutch burn would smell like... best you can atleast with words.

I found that most the time I stall it is when I give it gas before I am at the friction point... like when you launch the car.. except on a less extreme RPM. I am now waiting till I hit friction/engagement point.. and then the car starts to move a bit... then I give it gas while lettting out all the way. I don't want any slippage happening since Im newb.

 

Burned clutch smells acrid, like overheated brakes. Hot new car engine (at least on my 07 SS/SC) smells way different.

 

Yes smells like overheat brakes.

 

i think thats what I described above? Burning rubber.. Almost like burning brake pads? Now Im worried!

 

Mines brand new too,and i get some smells from the engine bay.A couple times it was clutch,lol.That smell should hit your nose alot harder.Damn,it's so different from my mustang clutch,but in a great way really now that i understand it.I think it shifts like a dream,not even broke in yet.

 

It's normal. Will go away once you learn how to drive a manual better. I love it! Won't buy another car without it

 

Does stalling it out hurt anything? Sounds and feels horrible.

 

No, you just need to learn to drive a stick, This is all

 

^^^ exactly. Just don't panic and try to start it up again real quickly. You don't want to flood the engine. Other then that, just find a nice parking lot and keep practicing till you feel the comfortable amount of clutch and gas you should use.

 

hell yeah.. I have a big part of our subdivision that is paved but no houses yet... perfect.. been out there all day and just backroads and ****.

At worst.... I burn my clutch out within the year or w/e.. at worst... ****.. 1000$ or w/e to put a new one in (guessing on price)....worth it to learn a new skill IMO ( Driving a stick).

Who knows.. maybe I can get through this without burning it.

I am more concerned with developing bad habbits due to ignorance however.. Im sure everything will be gravy.. Im loving the car... even though I worry about it like a newborn!

First new car I have had....first manual as well! x2 fuN!

 

I learned to drive a standard at age 14, but this was forced on me by my dad, so I could move all the trucks in the yard. He had a construction bussiness & back in the day (80's) all work truck were standard. These trucks had such a low 1st gear it was easy to learn on, the 10 wheelers were a bitch cause you use the clutch to take off.

 

That's awesome man! I'm glad you have a positive outlook on it. You shouldn't burn your clutch out, I didn't and it sounds like you'll pick it up decently quick so you shouldn't have a problem. You're making me hate that my car isn't here yet lol I've already ordered some sportline springs and just about to order a rear sway bar. I haven't even gotten to the downpipe, intake or tune yet......I have a problem lol.

 

if its a brand new car, its the carbon and other chemicals int he gas that are geting burned in the in side of the engine, after the first few hundred miles, after that a certain amount of resin remains so you dont get that smell to much

 

it sounds normal. just keep with shiftin and u will get it. i would say get in the habbits of downshiftin as aposed* to just shiftin to neutral.

 

I am not modding it.. at least not till warranty is up.

thanks!

 

What?!?

 

you know that smell that comes from burnt tires? like the most delicious smell in the world, gives me a car boner etc.

well clutch burning is like the opposite of that...

if your clutch is burning it would be smelt IMMEDIATELY after you slipped it. unless it was on the way out which would mean its slipping all the time.

 

My dealership guy is encouraging me.... he's higher up and will keep my warranty intact. I'm sure this car is a blast without modding.......but I'd still get a tune and keep around the stock tuning to switch back if anything goes awry.

 

That smell coming off your engine is just the "new car smell" getting cooked off of it.