Smelly Clutch

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:41 pm

As some of you guys know, i recently bought a Manual FTO.
Today was my first day of real driving, and it was pretty good.

After a gentle drive, when i get home or anywhere, my cluch smells heaps, and this is with gear changes at round 5k. Now this is normal driving, with relatively smooth gear changes...

Having never actually owning a manual before, i don't really know what kinda of levels of smell to expect. I know clutches are meant to smell, but with my fto, it smells, just from normal use... pretty bad...

Could this be because the car hasn't been driven by anyone for ages?

I'm just concerned, because i know a smelly clutch aint great, and i don't want to be replacing clutches often... Is it my technique?

BTW, can anyone describe the noise their engine makes when in Mivec mode?

GPXXX · Post by **GPXXX** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:13 am

LoL, shifting at 5000rpms is not exactly what i would call 'normal driving'...

as for the MIVEC noise, well haven't you wound it all the way to 8000rpm yet??

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:15 am

There should be a discernable engine note change at around 5,500-6,000rpm through to the red line.

Jono · Post by **Jono** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 1:09 am

Boris, for economical driving, try 3k shift's

lol
but yeah, when i first got my FTO it did stink, but after i learnt how to use the clutch, no more smell's.
Jono

SilentBob · Post by **SilentBob** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:09 am

GPXXX wrote:LoL, shifting at 5000rpms is not exactly what i would call 'normal driving'...

yeah, you shift at redline right?

SilentBob

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:44 pm

Nice call SilentBob, i'm tempted to do that all the time. I try to be good, but i can't resist when lancers jizz me up at the lights...

Well, i think i'm either wearing the clutch in to my driving style, or my driving style is changing, cos the clutch still sometimes smells, but not as much.

Hoping that it will stop smelling soon.

The Oil temp gauge that i have, is leaking oil from the stupid sump plug, so now i have to try and stop the leaking...

Having had a brief look at it today, i think the thread in the sump plug is screwed, cos when i go to tighten it, the plug, with the sensor just keeps spinning. I will try to examine the problem deeper...

I wish i had a proper jack...

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:49 pm

This should be covered by the standard warranty and part of the road worthy on the car. Take it back to the dealer and get them to do it properly and free!

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:11 am

Yeah, i guess your right,
I will lift the car up tommorow and see what i can do, after all, it might be something simple.

And if not, i'll ring the dealer tommorow, to sort out who can do it down here. I can't really take it to him, as i'm 300k's away.

The NRMA guy did tell me about it, but he said it wasn't serious, but now when i look at it, there are like a few splotches of it overnight...

RichardH · Post by **RichardH** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:46 am

That sender unit sump plug is pretty pricey. Be very careful.

I put an after-market oil temp gauge in, with the same style sender unit. The RalliArt garage here recommended against using the sender as a sump plug, as you'd be messing with it every 5,000km for oil changes.

He suggested instead that the sender should be mounted elsewhere in the sump - permanently. Then use a regular sump plug for oil changes. I got a proper fitting welded into the sump, the sender went into that, and, well, it's down there doing its thing and we don't touch it!

So I'll pass the same advice on. The oil temp gauge is a valuable tool for treating your engine right (ie. not thrashing it when it's cold). So mount the sender plug somewhere permanent. Then you can re-tap the oil drainage hole if it needs it - fit a bigger sump plug to ensure its a good fit.

Good luck.

- Rich

PS. Make sure the little copper ring is replaced when you change the oil. It may have been put back on, again and again, until it's dead. That's another cause of drips, eh?

Boris · Post by **Boris** » Thu Apr 15, 2004 12:29 am

Thanks Richard, i'm getting it looked at on friday.

Since this is sorta my thread, i just wanted to ask you guys this.

The reason why i asked what noise mivec makes earlier is because to me the noise my car makes isn't quite natural, and it didn't apear to sound like this the 1st & 2nd day i got it. The noise it makes past 5g is, well, kinda metallicy if you know what i mean.

I sorta have two possible solutions to this, either the oil grade is not right, or it has something to do with the oil leak i have.

I have been taking it pretty easy till i get a full lube change, and the leak fixed, but tonight when i went into mivec territory i noticed, the red light blinking (engine warning light), on the left going of for like a nano second in 1st gear & second...

Which prob means, that the engine is not getting enough oil... but i have been cheking the oil levels almost everyday now, i will c what it is tommorow. *sight*

Atleast i know that if it's serious, like an oil pump i have the warranty...

Sorry for my post, but i'm just one concerned fto owner... cos i love my car, and want her to be in the best shape... if u know what i mean.