s14roller

I've taken my 02 out about half a dozen times now and it seems like everytime I drive it, there's this smell that I experience once I open the door to get out. It's strongest around the driver side rear wheel area. Almost like a burning smell...

I thought it was the clutch at first but unless I'm burning the clutch everytime I get out of 1st gear, I don't think this is the case. Even in first I'll probably take 2-3 seconds between depressing and fully-off to get a smooth engagement. All this while engaging no higherthan 1-1.2K RPM. Is it possible I'm burning the clutch still?

Any thoughts? I searched and some people say the smell is normal but is it supposed to be strong enough that I'd smell it once I open the door? Pretty sure it's not the smell of coolant...

rcg412

normal... at worst, potentially leaking coolant tank...

someone once suggested it was burning rubber from the negative camber of the tires. he made the point that it is worse with winter tires, than summer... more rubber to burn.

porschedog

I get that, too. Thought it was the brakes. Go figure.

spiderv6

i get a smell too but always assumed it was just the brakes and the general heat of the engine around various bits of rubber and plastic.

s14roller

And you guys are getting the smell once you open your door as well?

I know some people get the smell when they literally go sniff their motor bays...I get it the second I open the door.

CosmosC4S

I had that smell once (yes, on opening the door) for a period of time, and it ended up being a busted coolant hose.

I still do smell something fishy/heat related, once in a while.
I'd go sniffing around the engine like a pig sniffing for truffel...no clue.

jsaindc

Get the smell all the time...with a cab and the top down it is very noticable. I think that there are a dozen or so theroies on what is actually causing the smell. You will get used to it; however, keep an eye on your gauges and check your fluids and look for leaks to be safe.

JCreasy

I have the same thing. To me, it smells like a new car engine that is hot. I bought my car at 11k and it now has 18k... Smell is still there. Funny someone mentioned to check the gauges because when I noticed it, I began religiously checking my temp. and even posted here to make sure I was in range for the car.

JKC

gota911

It could be the cosmoline which Porsche applys to the underside of the car to inhibit rust.

Tippy

Mine is from oil dripping on the driver side header. Usually only happens when i exceed roughly 5000 rpm. It is the blowby of the engine (at high rpm) that forces the oil out of the cam seals that need to be replaced on my engine.

WFO

Have the exact same "oh crap, what's wrong" smell from my 02' Carrera. It only has 18,000 on it. Seems to be normal considering all the posts about it here. I'm going with the cosmoline theory.

s14roller

I don't drive the car hard (usually no higher than 4K) so I didn't know what was wrong!

I thought I was just driving the car wrong somehow and was burning the clutch. It didn't seem like so many ppl would have the same "issue" with the car. It just sucks everytime I get out the car I "smell" like I'm not driving her correctly. Other than that though, the car has been awesome

spiderv6

You ARE driving the car wrong if you are not driving it hard and no higher than 4K......that's where the fun starts

aben8057

Do you drive with your foot on the clutch and in between shift do you put your foot on the mat?

discoganya

Believe it or not, if you are always below 4K RPM, there is a higher chance that you are occasionally lugging the engine -- which is bad. It's a good thing to rev up the engine once in a while -- it does no damage.