Smelling clutch after 'big start'
 

I had to make a big start from a T junction today to catch a gap in the traffic. I got the revs up to about 4-5k (higher than I wanted) and dropped the clutch. The car shot forward as expected, to the point I had to back off for fear of going straight into the hedge opposite. :eek:

I carried on up the road, with the windows down half way, and an almighty stench emminated into the car - immediately recognised as clutch.

I know this is normal but I continued my journey for about 10 miles and when I pulled up the clutch was still stinking. Is this normal? Have I caused terminal damage to the clutch?

It doesn't seem to be slipping, perhaps the smell will go away when the clutch plates cool down?

Any info welcome. :thumb:

I would say this is normal.

A clutch that is not normally abused (used?) can get a build-up of crud and when it gets a hard time that crud burns and smells.

I f you hit the clutch like this often (I do in my hill climing Sti) then the clutch stays smell free!

If you SLIP the clutch then it will smell and fail.

The smell howsoever caused lingers for ages as you know...
Graham

Thanks, that makes me feel a little less guilty for the brief moment of abuse :nono:

Yep, as Graham said, they can stink after a bit of hard use.

Graham, what -in your view- is the difference between dumping and slipping the clutch?

Ns04

When i do the hill climb starts (I seriously race on tracks) then it is 4500 rpm, and lift the left leg as fast as you can. Big bite, some wheel spin and off you go (380 bhp Sti v3)
Slipping is when you take the same approach but it takes 1 to 2 seconds to do it!
That wil frazzle the poor clutch easy.

Graham

You're not on the std Gearbox are you Graham?? :D

Evo had an interesting suggestion the other day which they argued was much kinder to the car than the 'just dump the clutch' approach. This involved holding the car at bite point with the handbrake applied then upping the revs releasing the handbrake and then immediately dumping the clutch. They argued that this takes much of the "shock" out of the transmission. I'm not sure I'd want to hold my car at 4500 revs for any length of time with the clutch biting though!!!

Ns04

Stock Sti v3 gearbox and an excellent AP organic that has been doing this technique for 3 .5 years and 10K road miles.

You buy quality once.

do not agree with EVO comments. Is that in this month's issue?
Graham

Cool, I have a Exedy organic on mine; so that gives me a bit of hope! :)

Last month mate. See the Evo vs Porsche 911 turbo vs Lamorghini (sp?) test. Don't agree with it either, I think it could crucify the clutch! I also think that the only reason that magazines like EVo fear busting the gearbo so much is that the technique that journalists often use to get 4wd off the line is wind the car up to maximum revs (as opposed to 4.5k) and just take their foot off the clutch and then do full bore dropped clutch gearchanges. Ouch!

Ns04

i'm having some weird clutch issues too...can't seem to launch; side step at 4500 and all i get is not much movement and lots of smell until i change into 2nd...doesn’t seem to be slipping in the higher gears either.

a problem or is it just my driving incompetence? :D

edited to add: MY00 290\300ish horses.

Smell of clutch lining or rubber?

On 'poor' road tyres you will get one/2/3/4 wheels spinning and if the car does not have fancy diffs, then the car can 'stand still'
2nd will stop the wheel spin and traction is to be had.

Normally, that technique will work unless the clutch actually slips as it cannot bite.

Graham.

burning clutch...not rubber and no fancy diffs.

ian

Then it must be a slipping clutch. Or the centre visc diff is in trouble?
Graham

My 03 STI clutch stinks for miles when i do a steep hill start, or sit on high reving biting point for take off.
After reading all the reply's, i'm still not sure if this is bad or normal ?

Any smell is (potentially) bad.
If shows something is rubbing or getting very hot.

A clutch is the same as brakes. The smell of very hot brakes is similat to the clutch and the engineering is very similar; friction material rubbing against a fast moving metal surface...

If a clutch repeadedly smaell in use it is close to failing unless treated with due care.
As i said above, my AP organic is 'dumped' very frequently so is clean of normal road-going deposits where we use our clutched with a smooth action.

It does not smell when abused because there is no slippage. If I make a lazy hard start it will smell because the flywheel/cover is spinning at about 5000 against 2 friction surfaces that are standing still, and the 2 are asked to lock together 'instantly' on a hard take-off. Any slipping and high temperatures occure and debris 'burns' = smell.

Normal driving you take-off at 2500 max and ease the clutch in...all very calm.

Graham

not sure tbh, its a MY00 UK wagon thats covered just over 63k...are there any checks i could carry out to identify diff issues?

I can't help on the centre diff, specialist needs.
Best person i know for all these issues is David at www.apiengines.com
They are based close to Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.
Graham