I've now run almost 10,000k and am very happy with my 8. It's due to go in for service next week.

One persistent issue, and I'd like to hear from others, is a burning rubber smell from the rear of the car after long trips (to avoid a thread hijack -- no, I have not been doing burn-outs).

At first, I thought this smell (plus others) was simply part of the run in process, but since it is still around after 10,000 k makes me wonder.

Can't see anything obvious. The exhaust system does run hot and that affects the boot(trunk) temperature, too.

Mostly notice the smell after highway runs rather than around town.

Anyone else care to comment?

Timbo

Timbo

DONT WORRY BE HAPPY .

10,000 KM AND NO OTHER PROBLEMS , i would not be overly concerned with the smell off rubber after a long highway trip , just keep an eye on the exaust area , maybe if you could jack up your car you may be able to ascertain were smell is coming from or , go for long drive before your 10,00km service and get the car put on ramp as soon as u arrive at the dealer , this will let them smell , and chek the exaust area.

I too notice strange smells coming from my car after driving for 4 hours... however, I figured if it was anything other than normal rotary odours (rotary tennis shoes anyone?), then I'd probably get a warning light of some description... get the dealer to check it out, I'd be curious to see what they say, as I'm probably only 6 weeks from my 10k service.

I get a bit of a burnt rubber smell sometimes on backing the car out of the garage. Possibly some oil on the clutch plate?

Labrat

We could all become chemists and play a game called analyse this.
HA HA HA .

I've done long trips and never noticed any burning smells.

Are you sure you guys aren't just smelling the oil? As I'm sure you all know rotaries ingest oil, which I can sometimes smell in the RX8 when stopping at lights and such with the window down...

Are you sure you guys aren't just smelling the oil?

No, this is quite specifically a burning rubber smell -- am aware of the oil smell.

I suspect it probably relates to sound-deadening material used at the rear and, taking the advice given, will ensure the car is nice and hot when I take it for the 10k service. Those mechanics will love me!

Timbo

...I too am experiencing some type of oil or rubber smell after long trips (400 mile trip this morning), after parking from the rear part of the car. I'm wondering it is normal or what???

Anybody else with this?

Originally posted by QuantumTheory08
...I too am experiencing some type of oil or rubber smell after long trips (400 mile trip this morning), after parking from the rear part of the car. I'm wondering it is normal or what???

Anybody else with this?

As the original author, I can tell you what happened in my case. Apparently, I ran over a plastic bag or similar at some stage, which ended up getting stuck (and melting on) to the cat converter. It was cleaned off at my 10,000K service and I haven't noticed that particular smell any more. But I do continue to noitce the slight 'burnt oil' smell which I understand is a rotary characteristic:)

Thanks for the update... I was thinking about this yesterday!

Thank you and I'll keep checkingin on this.

I know the thread is five years old, but now I've got the issue. 2004 w/50k miles. Smells like burning rubber or plastic in the trunk after driving for a while. Not a very intense smell, no smoke visible, been doing this for a few weeks now. Haven't looked for a bag stuck to, or melting away on my exhaust system, but I wouldn't expect it to continue this long.

Anyone else ever get this issue? I've had the car for a year and a half and put on about 15k miles. The problem just started. This is not the smell of oil.

Get underneath and see if you have stucked a plastic bag in the exhaust? It may be a patch of black by now.

Yeah I had this too and was at ProMaz the other days watching Simon Dremel the remains of another guys cat. Goes away after about 2 weeks.

Sorry can't help myself.

hmmmm, what large rubber parts are there on an 8 that could possibly heat up during a long trip.

I often smell rubber when I get out of the car even after short trips, especially on the rear passenger's side, particularly if I've seen the DSC light at all during the drive.

Um... Cats and rubber burn the same smell??

Crikey, this just goes to prove a good ol' thread never dies :eyetwitch

Rotaries burn oil, and as they get older snf the seals naturally wear, they burn more oil. Burning oil smells different depending on whether its mineral or synthetic, and also on its age.

Not many ks for a 2004 car. Has it had much 'exercise'? If not, carbon build up plus oil is most likely the source of the smell.

Cat problems usually have other symptoms.

Hmm, always thought this problem was confined to the bedroom...

:FIREdevil

Hmm, always thought this problem was confined to the bedroom...

:FIREdevil

??? I am a bit slow this morning. Please elaborates?

??? I am a bit slow this morning. Please elaborates?
What is something you use in the bedroom thats made out of "rubber" (actually its latex isn't it?).

You mexicans have no imagination! :rolleyes:

:)

Hmm, always thought this problem was confined to the bedroom...

:FIREdevil

I am too old to get up to any burning rubber antics in an RX8.
I think I would need a Winnebago for that these days.

Exhaust system, including rear Muffler (which is very heavy) hangs there on Rubber Mounts, they could be getting hot and or perishing?.

Is it possible that the under body spray on insulation could be getting hot and smelling.

Did or does your car have a thin stick on heat insulator strip above the rear exhaust pipe/muffler as this was added during production (around 2005) and parts made available for inspected cars missing this heat insulation.

It's purpose was to prevent a fire and or smells.

I get this smell only if I engage the clutch and knock out a couple of revs (up to 5k) before moving. Could be oil around clutch or something burning near exhaust dunno.

HUH?...are you dropping (launching) the clutch at 5000 RPM?...

If you think it is oil you could have a rear main oil seal (eccentric shaft) leak, or the oil seal around your input shaft on the transmission side could be leaking Trans Fluid (unlikely).

How many Miles have you done...

There is a very small "weep/vent " hole at the bottom of your Bell housing (where your clutch is), get under the car from the drivers side and look, you will see a small round hole about a 1/4 of an inch at the bottom and middle of bell housing, if this has oil seeping out then check to see if it is thin oil or a thicker oil..

Thin oil is Rear Main Eccentric shaft seal. (Engine Oil)
Thick oil is your Input shaft seal leaking trans fluid.

HUH?...are you dropping (launching) the clutch at 5000 RPM?...

If you think it is oil you could have a rear main oil seal (eccentric shaft) leak, or the oil seal around your input shaft on the transmission side could be leaking Trans Fluid (unlikely).

How many Miles have you done...

There is a very small "weep/vent " hole at the bottom of your Bell housing (where your clutch is), get under the car from the drivers side and look, you will see a small round hole about a 1/4 of an inch at the bottom and middle of bell housing, if this has oil seeping out then check to see if it is thin oil or a thicker oil..

Thin oil is Rear Main Eccentric shaft seal. (Engine Oil)
Thick oil is your Input shaft seal leaking trans fluid.

No, I'm not launching at 5k, just once in awhile I'll give it some throttle just before I move, I like the sound. Then I'll take off normally at 1 to 1.5k, I've been driving stick since '95 so I'm not a newb and I've never had this smell on any of the cars I've had. I always sit at a stop in neutral, even roll the last 10-20 ft. of a stop in neutral. If I rev it all the way up to 7 or 8k while in neutral there's no smell. But if I engage the clutch at a stop and rev it up for a sec. it smells bad, so it must be clutch related.

I bought the car 6 months ago with 34k on odo., now at 40k. I have been paying attention to any spots in the driveway but haven't seen any.

I've read also that the stock tranny isn't that great at all and many owners have had to replace clutches far too soon, maybe I'll just install something better-Keith

If you're blipping the throttle you may be riding the clutch a bit too much, or the clutch is on its way out especially if you can't launch the car without clutch slippage from about 4-5krpm.

It's very easy to butcher a clutch in the RX8 ... as many can testify.