Burned smell only under hard acceleration

Hi all,

In the past few days I've been getting a slight burned smell on hard acceleration coming through the air vent.

On a normal drive in town or normal motorway acceleration it doesn't happen.

Also, once in every launches the car does sort of hesitates to set off maybe slipping clutch?

(which could also be the source of the smell? and both cases are connected? )

The car has just had a new clutch, gear pumps , plugs and oils top engine mount and more fitted..
Maybe something is not fastened properly?

No clear sign of oil leaks I can see on the naked eye..

What could it be?
 
I’d be asking the garage that did the clutch to double check it, but clutch is a distinctive smell...

Might be something as daft as something rubbing on the exhaust... or touching it under hard acceleration
 
If it was a small oil leak it would likely do it with gentle driving, on acceleration says to me it’s something moving or on the drive train, obvious part is the clutch...
 
I've exactly the same problem. It's began after I had a new (used) engine fitted together with belts and a new clutch kit. @Fletcher77 have you found the source of the smell, is it the clutch?

Edit: This thread suggests it's burning soot that's built up and it kind of makes sense as I only get the smell in the first a few blasts, it doesn't happen every time I floor it.

https://clio197.net/threads/smell.50056/
 
Last edited:
Hi ,

Actually I did :smile:

It was a combination of Driver Error and Wheel liner misfit .

The Mechanic put the new Wheel arch liner wrong, so the wheel kept rubbing it and it created some of the a smell.

The second reason was me :smile: I used to have a tendency to hold the Clutch too long under hard acceleration ,I'm used to releasing it slowly like on heavy traffic, Once I stopped doing it the smell is all but gone (the wheel arch as well lol)

I'll be ordering new wheel arch liner soon and have another shop fit it properly , along with some other Plastic bits (Bumper trey and front splitter Any recommended places to order those BTW? world wide shipping )

Hope it helps!
 
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