Brand new Camaro; burning smell - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

donathonnn · 07-06-2014, 09:15 AM

So I just bought a 2LS Camaro on July 4th. Picked it up the next day and while I was driving home I noticed a very strong burnt smell I'm the cabin and outside. It seems like the smell is coming from the engine bay. Has this happened to anybody else? What should I do?

donathonnn · 07-06-2014, 09:16 AM

In the cabin* sorry bout that. Typo

Angrybird 12 · 07-06-2014, 09:16 AM

Normal on most new cars, you have paint and coatings on metal parts that burn off , it should go away the more you drive it.

nyrfan · 07-06-2014, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Normal on most new cars, you have paint and coatings on metal parts that burn off , it should go away the more you drive it.

Agreed.

mvrekic · 07-06-2014, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donathonnn

So I just bought a 2LS Camaro on July 4th. Picked it up the next day and while I was driving home I noticed a very strong burnt smell I'm the cabin and outside. It seems like the smell is coming from the engine bay. Has this happened to anybody else? What should I do?

It should disappear after the first 1000 km or so. If not, see your dealer

Gr8ride · 07-06-2014, 09:29 AM

Same thing happened to me when I got my 2012, after I got home I looked underneath the car and there was some plastic wrapping stuck on the exhaust pipe just in front of the rear wheels and there were also stickers on the mufflers. I peeled them off, no more burning smell after that.

EmeryZ28 · 07-06-2014, 09:32 AM

I used to be a manager for Enterprise at the Tampa Airport. We would receive cars straight form the factory and the guys in our repair shop would have to peel off all the stickers, protective stuff, put in the floor mats etc. basically dealer prep. So we would be renting cars with literally 2 miles on the odometer. I had so many employees and customers make comments about the burning smell from new cars, and this was always the case. Think of all the plastic, paint and adhesives, etc in that engine bay getting reallly hot for the first time. completely normal

Scalded Dog · 07-06-2014, 09:47 AM

Ever since I first got mine, when I would run it hard, I got a distinctive smell of very hot/ burning transmission fluid. Had the dealership check it a couple of times, and even had a very thorough inspection done at 60,000 miles. All clean bills of health, no problems, no issues. I'm at 74,000 miles now, the smell is less frequent, but... it is still there when I work it hard.

Cheveey57 · 07-06-2014, 10:31 AM

Is it a rubber smell coming from around the rear tires?

87GNX · 07-06-2014, 10:41 AM

AS long as it's not engine coolant smell, enjoy the birth of it.

jd10013 · 07-06-2014, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angrybird 12

Normal on most new cars, you have paint and coatings on metal parts that burn off , it should go away the more you drive it.

I've owned many new cars and never had one smell like it was burning. never experienced that on a test drive either. must be a GM thing

SteelCamaro · 07-06-2014, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd10013

I've owned many new cars and never had one smell like it was burning. never experienced that on a test drive either. must be a GM thing

Nope, I've noticed it on a Camaro, Subaru Impreza, Subaru WRX, Honda Pilot, Mercury Milan...only to name a few recent ones. Common with all new cars, no matter the brand. Also keep in mind that even when buying a new exhaust you can smell the forming oil burning off during the first so many miles. I wouldn't be surprised if the stock exhaust (and other various components) also have some residues, in addition to the paint and stickers and such, left over from the factory that will burn off over time.

alaskacamaro · 07-06-2014, 12:24 PM

Common on new cars. Seals, gaskets and the engine have a break in period that will result in a burning smell for the first 1000 or so miles. Nothing to worry about unless you start seeing smoke and your display cluster lights up like Christmas.

The Camaro clutch also seems more prone to riding issues (manual) than other manual cars I have owned. This will also cause a mild burning smell.

CSoupSS · 07-06-2014, 12:40 PM

I had the same issue when I bought mine last year. It will go away eventually. It's all the tags and stickers on most of the parts in the engine bay that touch things that are hot. After a few 1k miles or so the tags get to the point where they don't burn anymore. Keep enjoying the ride!

07-06-2014, 09:15 AM	#1
donathonnn donathonn Drives: 95 integra, 2014 2LS Camaro Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: San Leandro Posts: 7	Brand new Camaro; burning smell So I just bought a 2LS Camaro on July 4th. Picked it up the next day and while I was driving home I noticed a very strong burnt smell I'm the cabin and outside. It seems like the smell is coming from the engine bay. Has this happened to anybody else? What should I do?

07-06-2014, 09:16 AM	#3
Angrybird 12 7 year Cancer Survivor! Drives: 17 Cruze RS, 07 G6 GT, 99 Astro Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 21,547	Normal on most new cars, you have paint and coatings on metal parts that burn off , it should go away the more you drive it. __________________ Cancer's a bitch! Enjoy life while you can! LIVE, LOVE, DRIVE... The Bird is the word!

07-06-2014, 09:29 AM	#6
Gr8ride Drives: Camaro 2Lt Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 228	Same thing happened to me when I got my 2012, after I got home I looked underneath the car and there was some plastic wrapping stuck on the exhaust pipe just in front of the rear wheels and there were also stickers on the mufflers. I peeled them off, no more burning smell after that. __________________

07-06-2014, 09:32 AM	#7
EmeryZ28 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 812	I used to be a manager for Enterprise at the Tampa Airport. We would receive cars straight form the factory and the guys in our repair shop would have to peel off all the stickers, protective stuff, put in the floor mats etc. basically dealer prep. So we would be renting cars with literally 2 miles on the odometer. I had so many employees and customers make comments about the burning smell from new cars, and this was always the case. Think of all the plastic, paint and adhesives, etc in that engine bay getting reallly hot for the first time. completely normal __________________ 2015 Silverado Z71 6.2/2011 Camaro 2SSRS LS3/2014 Cadillac ATS 2.0T

07-06-2014, 10:31 AM	#9
Cheveey57 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT RS Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Long Island Posts: 1,425	Is it a rubber smell coming from around the rear tires? __________________ If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.

07-06-2014, 09:47 AM	#8
Scalded Dog Drives: 2011 1LT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Crestline, CA Posts: 3,029	Ever since I first got mine, when I would run it hard, I got a distinctive smell of very hot/ burning transmission fluid. Had the dealership check it a couple of times, and even had a very thorough inspection done at 60,000 miles. All clean bills of health, no problems, no issues. I'm at 74,000 miles now, the smell is less frequent, but... it is still there when I work it hard.

07-06-2014, 10:41 AM	#10
87GNX Drives: Alot Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Norcalifas Posts: 1,337	AS long as it's not engine coolant smell, enjoy the birth of it.

07-06-2014, 12:24 PM	#13
alaskacamaro Drives: 2012 2SS 45TH Anniversary Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 720	Common on new cars. Seals, gaskets and the engine have a break in period that will result in a burning smell for the first 1000 or so miles. Nothing to worry about unless you start seeing smoke and your display cluster lights up like Christmas. The Camaro clutch also seems more prone to riding issues (manual) than other manual cars I have owned. This will also cause a mild burning smell.

07-06-2014, 12:40 PM	#14
CSoupSS Drives: 2013 Black Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Humble, Tx Posts: 28	I had the same issue when I bought mine last year. It will go away eventually. It's all the tags and stickers on most of the parts in the engine bay that touch things that are hot. After a few 1k miles or so the tags get to the point where they don't burn anymore. Keep enjoying the ride!