I've had my RX8 for 2 weeks now, fantastic drive and looks.

I've come across the smell of rotten eggs when i start the car, mostly when it's cold and needs to warm up using higher revs at idle.
I have noticedd that when i drive hard, when i park up, there is a smell of burning rubber, and it's not the tyres.

Is this normal?

 

The burning rubber is probably your clutch, or if you're driving it hard your brakes, since you're most likely braking hard as well. Someone explained the rotten egg smell to me once and that it is normal, although I don't remember what it is.

 

The smell may be coming from the type of gas you are using. Here in Wisconsin, especially when they shift over to the "summer blend" of gasoline (supposedly to reduce bad emissions) the sulfur smell (rotten eggs) can be very noticible. Since you said it occurs when you start the car, I question whether it is the brakes or clutch. Just my $.02

 

possible cat and/or clutch

cat warming

or clutch not being handled properly...although a new clutch will stink a bit during break in...just like rotten eggs

hmmmm

 

could it be the smell of the gas that sat in the rotors that are burning off due to startup?

i came to this conclusion because i used to have this smell alot too when i first got my 8 but after i started reving it to 4k rpms right before i turned it off, the smell would become less noticeable or not noticeable at all.

 

My 2005 RX8 had a burning rubber smell for the first 1500 miles or so. I noticed the same smell in some of the new cars on the lot also. I'm guessing that it's normal, and will go away for you also.

 

It comes from the exhaust. I believe most of us have smelt it and weren't proud that we did either. Lol Don't worry about it, its normal...................................

 

The 8 injects minute amounts of oil into its fuel mixture (gas and air) in order to lubricate the rotor seals. That's a fundamental operating property of a rotary engine. Because of that, the exhaust smells different from piston engine cars and the exhaust pipes develop a greasy soot. It's totally normal.

Similarly, two stroke motors' exhausts smell different than four stroke motors because they burn oil in their fuel like a rotary.

In fact, if you don't smell oil in the exhaust, you've got big trouble because that means no oil or not enough oil is being injected into the fuel and a sieze is imminent.

 

It is the cat. No need to worry. The smell will eventually go away in time.

 

I had all sorts of smells for the few 1,500 miles or so. They cleared up after that. I think its just parts breaking in.

 

What "parts" you referring to?...sorry, I couldn't resist after looking at your avatar :D

 

I think the burning rubber smell comes from the tires. I smell it too after hard long drives. That smell comes from the tires when I get down and sniff them.

 

Ha, well I was refering to clutch and new unbroken in engine but yes some of the odors did eminate from the nether regions. :D

 

Oh, this thread is too funny :D

 

Just this weekend on my way to and from the Revolution I had a strong smell of rubber when I would stop for gas.I was waiting in line for a pump the first time after driving at 70 MPH for around 25-300 miles,and noticed the smell of rubber like I was burning a belt.I popped the hood,and the engine cover to investigate,but the belts looked fine.I gassed up,and went along again with no smell at all until I stopped again for gas.I have no idea where the smell is coming from,and like I said it was not there when driving down the highway.I was not burning clutch or brakes while rolling off the highway most times in neutral with very little brake forces.Any ideas?This car has 7+K miles on it now so that should not be an issue.

 

I actually have 8k on the clock and the smell is coming from somewhere. This is going to be one of lifes great mysteries!
:D

 

i have an 04 Rx8 with 31k miles and have just noticed recently that when i rev the engine(around 4-6k after the engine has already warmed) either in neutral or in gear with the clutch held in there is a real bad plastic/rubber type smell coming from the engine bay. should i be too concerned with this?