Burning smell??

[JakeF777]

It's just the new car smell. Kinda like that new motherboard smell.

Yes, it could be. I’m just worried that it’s something I need to be worried about. lol….

Somebody mentioned that it could be a coolant leak, but this doesn’t smell like coolant to me. Unless burnt coolant smells different than what I’m imagining. Lol..

 

[JakeF777]

Mine just has a very slight burnt oil smell after hard, very hard driving. There are no leaks seeps or spills anywhere and it's never burned any oil according to the dipstick.

Do you smell it inside the cab?

 

[5amp5on]

Do you smell it inside the cab?

negative only with the hood open after. It's very mild.

 

[JakeF777]

Can anybody tell me where the cabin filter is located? I’m wondering if it is by the battery. I may need to check on that tomorrow. With it being a rotten egg/sulfur smell that could have something to do with it.

 

[Dying Star]

It's just the new car smell. Kinda like that new motherboard smell.

I shouldn’t be worried about the burnt clutch smell then right

 

[Thefunk]

I shouldn’t be worried about the burnt clutch smell then right

I remember the first time smelling burning brake pads and got worried. Then I hit the track with track pads, I welcomed the smell of new pad smell. Other drivers were like "Hey who's got the grey Nissan those pads were stinking!"

 

[Mugzilla]

Can anybody tell me where the cabin filter is located? I’m wondering if it is by the battery. I may need to check on that tomorrow. With it being a rotten egg/sulfur smell that could have something to do with it.

Behind the glove box. You need to take out about 8 phillips screws, and drop the whole glove compartment to get to it. It is pretty well contained as a unit. I don't see how battery overcharge stank could get in to it.

 

[nismo95tt]

I've been getting a mild burnt plastic smell ever since since I went on a 6 hour road trip right around 3k miles. It smells very similar to a hot glue gun warming up. I'm at 4k now, and it's been doing it for about a month, Checked oil, it's fine.

The smell is mild in cabin, but noticeable if I roll windows down or open driver's door. I've popped the hood while noticing it- It doesn't seem like it's coming directly from the engine bay. I've looked under the Z and don't see anything obvious (melted plastic, dripping fluids, etc). It happens even after a short drive (10 miles/20 mins)...

Does this sound like what others are experiencing? Anyone figure this out...?

 

[nismo95tt]

I've been getting a mild burnt plastic smell ever since since I went on a 6 hour road trip right around 3k miles. It smells very similar to a hot glue gun warming up. I'm at 4k now, and it's been doing it for about a month, Checked oil, it's fine.

The smell is mild in cabin, but noticeable if I roll windows down or open driver's door. I've popped the hood while noticing it- It doesn't seem like it's coming directly from the engine bay. I've looked under the Z and don't see anything obvious (melted plastic, dripping fluids, etc). It happens even after a short drive (10 miles/20 mins)...

Does this sound like what others are experiencing? Anyone figure this out...?

Bump.

Went on a longer road trip for the holiday. I still have the smell; it's like a whiff of a hot glue gun as soon as I open the driver's door; after fully warming up the car/driving more than 10-15 mins.

I'm at 4800 miles now. Does this match anyone's experience?

 

[alienpoker]

I’m very similar milage. Just over 4K. No, theres no strange smells that I’ve noticed. By now any RTV from manufacture and new hoses should have gassed off.

I’m of the mind that something plastic has melted on your exhaust manifolds or Cats that you can’t see. Maybe a plastic bracket, plastic pop-rivet or a zip tie type thing.

Cats run at 900F+ in normal operating temps. I know from previous experience that they would melt plastic instantly so it sticks to them & takes forever to burn away completely. The smell is very noticeable after every drive when that happens.

I’m not racing my Z around much. First 2K miles were break-in. I still mainly cruise it around at 2-3K RPM with the occasional pull building boost on an on-ramp or when passing. I’ve not redlined it (yet). I rarely see over 175-185F oil temp. Diff runs similar temps or slightly less.

Does your drivetrain oils / coolant temps run hot? What are typical readings for coolant, engine oil, and diff oil temperatures after it’s warmed up and you get the smell? Might be worth comparing them to a similar year & trim owner to see if any differences stand out.

 

[Oniissan]

Anyone have an update to this? I’ve checked coolant levels and everything seems fine. 7k Miles 2024 Performance

 

[nismo95tt]

I’m very similar milage. Just over 4K. No, theres no strange smells that I’ve noticed. By now any RTV from manufacture and new hoses should have gassed off.

I’m of the mind that something plastic has melted on your exhaust manifolds or Cats that you can’t see. Maybe a plastic bracket, plastic pop-rivet or a zip tie type thing.

Cats run at 900F+ in normal operating temps. I know from previous experience that they would melt plastic instantly so it sticks to them & takes forever to burn away completely. The smell is very noticeable after every drive when that happens.

I’m not racing my Z around much. First 2K miles were break-in. I still mainly cruise it around at 2-3K RPM with the occasional pull building boost on an on-ramp or when passing. I’ve not redlined it (yet). I rarely see over 175-185F oil temp. Diff runs similar temps or slightly less.

Does your drivetrain oils / coolant temps run hot? What are typical readings for coolant, engine oil, and diff oil temperatures after it’s warmed up and you get the smell? Might be worth comparing them to a similar year & trim owner to see if any differences stand out.

You were 100% right. Great call.

I swapped out the exhaust yesterday and found the culprit (attached photo)

What really pisses me off is that I took it to Nissan for an oil change service, and explained the situation in detail as I did above. Asked them to look underneath for a signs of “melted plastic” or “plastic touching metal” and they said “couldn’t reproduce smell” and - “inspected under car found no signs”.

As soon as I jacked the car up, got underneath, and took one look, I was like those lying, lazy MFs!

 

[KrackaC8]

Glad you found it. On to bigger & better!

 

[Hernandooo]

You were 100% right. Great call.

I swapped out the exhaust yesterday and found the culprit (attached photo)

What really pisses me off is that I took it to Nissan for an oil change service, and explained the situation in detail as I did above. Asked them to look underneath for a signs of “melted plastic” or “plastic touching metal” and they said “couldn’t reproduce smell” and - “inspected under car found no signs”.

As soon as I jacked the car up, got underneath, and took one look, I was like those lying, lazy MFs!

Look like they forgot to take off a label

 

[alienpoker]

Look like they forgot to take off a label

From my experience, it’s a black plastic bag he ran over. If you run over a bag, look behind & see if you can still see it. That’s what happened to me on my 370Z Nismo. I couldn’t see the bag anymore- so I at least I knew. Smells terrible & takes months for that plastic burning smell to go away