Smoked Clutch? ARGGHH

[Beretta]

This weekend I was out for a quick run to pickup some food for dinner when I came onto an aggressivly driven E36 M3. I ended up next to him at a light (couple of punk kids) so I figured I'd show them whats up. I did a moderately high RPM clutch drop at green (maybe 3500rpm) and took off. I ate him up pretty good as expected but forgot to shift into 3rd and spent a few seconds bumping the revlimiter before I let off and shifted into 3rd and then let off before I got going too fast and went on home without incident. At least I had already opened up a big gap on the M3 :) in spite of my missed shift. Not really a fair race, considering my HP advantage and 18" brand new Pilots but I enjoyed it.

When I got home I could smell a STRONG burning that didn't smell like brakes that I haven't smelled before (not the typical engine smell from a 911). I wondered if I'd damaged the clutch?

Next day I took it out and drove it a bit to see if i could detect any slippage and everything seems fine however the smell was back at the Starbuck drive thru. Last couple of days I have not noticed the smell as prominent but am concerned that I might have caused some damage to the clutch.

Car is a 2k 996 6sp with 40k miles on it. I'm not (usually) an aggressive driver so would say the clutch has never been abused and this is only the 2nd time I've done a clutch drop.

I wouldn't call what I did abuse - would think that it could take it pretty easily.

Any ideas?

[man_of_ice]

I've smelled somthing similar. Did somewhat the same stunt - rev at ~3000 and letting clutch go. Smelled really bad for a couple of days and went away.

Thats 6 month ago, and I do not notice anything wrong

[Jorge332655]

Dont worry about it.. My car always smells like that but then again i drive the car really hard. Its clutch you smell. Mine went out at about 35,000 miles on the car. If its not slipping dont worry about it. My clutch job was about 2,300 but i needed a new fly wheel.

[Beretta]

Wow. Well glad its nothing major. On the other hand, if this is "acceptable" clutch wear then I am really disappointed in Porsche. Performance wear items like tires and brakes I can understand but a non abused clutch? Weak!

[Costa]

3500 RPM does not sound like such a big deal for the clutch - Just don't do it every day :D

I'd be surprised if the smell was the clutch as this should only really occur if you had slippage or if you were riding the clutch for a while while dumping it at 3500.

Also you mention that the smell was there the following day. Normally if you get the clutch hot and it smells it should be ok the following day (as far as the smells are concerned) as the clutch should be cold etc?

I have launched at around 3 to 4K RPMs and have not noticed any smell etc but I normally do not hold the revs at those figures and just let the clutch out. I normally blip the throttle and let the clutch out as the engine is spooling down from say 4K RPMs and when it engages a reasonable amount? I then wind up the throttle - Timing is everything though....Probably not as fast on takeoff but probably not too aggressive on the clutch either.

Edited February 23, 2006 by ZX7R

[Gabo2k]

This weekend I was out for a quick run to pickup some food for dinner when I came onto an aggressivly driven E36 M3. I ended up next to him at a light (couple of punk kids) so I figured I'd show them whats up. I did a moderately high RPM clutch drop at green (maybe 3500rpm) and took off. I ate him up pretty good as expected but forgot to shift into 3rd and spent a few seconds bumping the revlimiter before I let off and shifted into 3rd and then let off before I got going too fast and went on home without incident. At least I had already opened up a big gap on the M3 :) in spite of my missed shift. Not really a fair race, considering my HP advantage and 18" brand new Pilots but I enjoyed it.

When I got home I could smell a STRONG burning that didn't smell like brakes that I haven't smelled before (not the typical engine smell from a 911). I wondered if I'd damaged the clutch?

Next day I took it out and drove it a bit to see if i could detect any slippage and everything seems fine however the smell was back at the Starbuck drive thru. Last couple of days I have not noticed the smell as prominent but am concerned that I might have caused some damage to the clutch.

Car is a 2k 996 6sp with 40k miles on it. I'm not (usually) an aggressive driver so would say the clutch has never been abused and this is only the 2nd time I've done a clutch drop.

I wouldn't call what I did abuse - would think that it could take it pretty easily.

Any ideas?

Not to worry, these cars are designed to take a good beating. You probably smelled a combination of tire, clutch, and oil residue on the engine.

Everytime I beat my car, I smell these things.

I once had a neighbor over (after some spirited driving), and he mentioned that my car smelled like it was about to catch on fire.

I told him not to worry, that I just had driven it a little hard. :D

Oh, always remember to drive slowly after a hard drive and right before putting her away. This will let all the components cool a little bit. I do a few miles around my home before I put her away in the garage.

Otherwise, your car will smoke the next morning... not a pretty sight - and smells worse...