I just bought a used G35 with 29000 miles on it from a Dealership, Well Ever scince i got it when i drove it I would smell this burning smell, I thought it was maybe the brakes getting back to use after not being used for about 4 months, but i have over 200 (scince i bought it) miles on it and I can still smell it.

I have had my car checked and everything is fine, when i first started driving it it was pretty bad, but it has gotten a little better but it is still there, I dont ride the clutch all my fluids are on par my brakes and rotors are perfect.

WHAT IS THIS SMELL ?

Hmmm...three possibilities come to mind.

1. They (dealer service) spilled oil on the exhaust manifold from filling and thats slowly burning away.
2. You picked up a plastic bag somewhere and it's stuck on your exhaust pipe.
3. (probably doesn't pertain b/c it's not new) Mine had a burning smell when new under the hood after a semi hard run.
Never found out what it was, but it stopped after about 2k on the odo.

I'm out of ideas. Guess if the smell is slowly going away, that's a good thing.

Chances are - there is some oil somewhere burning off like he said. When the car gets hot, it may drip or just burn.

Check your oil dipstick though. it is a pain in the *** to put in an take out, and it may very well likely not be seated properly.

Have you checked under the car for any residue? Also, how is that smell - is it kind of sweet smelling, or burnt like oil or tires or plastic? If it is sweet smelling, could be coolant overflow or trans/power steering fluid as well.

Rick

i had it on my new g coupe


if they recently replaced the clutch, this smell is from the braking in of a new clutch

Thanx...I always wondered what that smell was when mine was new.

Well burning smell from a new car's expected but this guy had 29k miles on it already. The fact that the intensity of the smell went from 'pretty bad' to a 'little better' at least means it's not leaking fluids that hasn't been resolved. I have a feeling the dealer accidently spilled oil during it's used vehicle inspection. Next time after a long drive, pop the hood and try finding the origin of the smell.

could it be remnants of stuff the dealer put on your engine while detailing it for sale? Armour All, etc. maybe "burning off"?

i did this a few weeks ago, cleared up after about a week.

Maybe a critter crawled up in there and died

Bump same here man. Look under your car for a plastic bag melted. Mine was in the rear

OK - so what does the burning smell - smell like???

It can be 20 different things - but without answering that question, telling him exactly what it is, is useless.

Rick

It kinda smelled like Brakes burning (I am not a car tech), but I know it wasnt from them, And i cant really smell and tell where it is coming from, but it is getting less and less

Also when i first got my clutch it was pretty darn stiff and now it feels a lot looser so i am wondering if they replaced it (I am calling monday)

My friend (who knows a little about hondas) said it smelled like clutch to him,
so I am hoping that, that is this case then ^^ (I dont "ride" the clutch)

Cool...brake and clutch burn smell very similar!

Really ? or you being a smartadoubless ?

(cant really tell sometime when people are being serious or sarcastic on the forums lol)

No---really..they are very similar compounds and rub against solid pieces of metal and burn when overheated - so they smell very similar when they do.

If I was being sarcastic - you'd know!

Rick