Ok, I'm sure this will be a silly question, but I'm not real technically savvy (that's a typical woman for ya'). This morning was probably the hardest I've run Dobby. He's got 3500 miles on him, and I broke him in properly. For the first time, I got the RPMS up around 5K+ off the line and took him to 93 mph. When I got to work, I could *smell* him. I can't describe the smell. Almost like a mild burning. All gauges were fine. Was he a happy MINI or an exhausted MINI?

 

Probably you were smelling the catalytic converter which absorbs the unburnt hydrocarbons from the exhaust gases as they pass from the engine through the exhaust system.

Other possibilities could be smelling the coolant from a defective recapture/overflow resevoir tank (a common MINI problem); or Oil if you recently added a little and some went down the side of the engine.

Check your fluids, if all is well don't worry, if something is low, attend to it.

 

If it's your first time to 5,000+ rpm, could it have been the first time you used the brakes at 93mph. They can gas too, and let off a smell. If everything checks out, I wouldn't worry too much. Look at it this way, you may have heated "everything" up more than it has before.

 

Could also be some wax used for corrosion protection during shipment. My Mini had a very sweet, hot wax-like smell for the first few 100 km. Sometimes even some smoke came from underneath the parked car.
My sisters Fiat got a new exhaust fitted several 100 km ago, but when I drive it I'm still able to bring back that 'new-exhaust-smell'

Don't worry

 

had a similar experience with mine(MC), either the oil drain was loose or the filter itself, but it would drip onto the exhaust and smell burnt. Now, I didnt realize this until I did an oil change at ~2000miles......and the smell went away. i guess my first indication should have been the oil level going down, but when I asked "the forums" they all said it was typical.......yeah, it wasnt. B&BII was when the smell was really obvious, probably because of the lenght of the drive.

Check your oil. If its down, take it in......or better yet, just take it in. heck, mine hasnt had an odor since.

 

A happy MINI

After a hard run or a long drive on a hot day my car will snap and pop as well as smell. Not to worry!

When it first happened to me I did the same type of drive the next day and, lo and behold, same noise and smells.

First thing to do for peace of mind is check all fluid levels, and finding no leaks or other things like plastic bags stuck on the a/c condenser say "Yes! I can do that."


Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.


Hope this helps...

 

every good man smells when you run him hard , he's fine just blowin out the cobwebs of the C/C.... run him hard and enjoy him.... dobbie? hmmmmm

 

Yes, Dobby. The house elf from Harry Potter.

Ok, C/C makes sense, and yes, it did have that burn off smell. I've smelled burnt oil and other burnt fluids before, and this definitely wasn't it. It was kinda a sweet smell like minikai said. I've also smelled burning brakes, and it wasn't the brakes either.

I will still check the oil and the fluids though just to be sure...

 

Congrats on letting Dobby loose a bit, now try 6000 .

On another note, great idea to give Dobby a thorough looking over after every run. If everyone did that, they'd find small problems like leaks before they turn into big deals that cost the cash and headaches.

 

This happens all the time with a new car. Running harder than previously will make the engine, exhaust and brakes hotter, and this will also heat up surrounding areas, 'cooking' out the smells of oils, waxes, sealants and such. There is nothing wrong here, and will dissipate over time.

THe MINI was simply "rode hard and put away wet".

 

Happy MINI or Exhausted MINI? I'm thinking more like Frustrated MINI; get out there and use that rev-limiter!

 

all of the cars that comes from europe are coated in a stuff called cosmilean, i think that how you spell. it pretty much protects everything while coming over the big lake from europe to the US, the salt can rust things while on it why over here. or your burning your clutch. one of the two


chris

 

Yeah, I'm thinking Greatbear has the answer. I have smelled this before with other's cars, too. I am just so very protective of my Dobby, that the thought of him not being happy upsets me. If anything, during that run, I picture Dobby with this excited lok on his face with his tongue hanging out and him saying, "Yes! Finally!!" I really don't think it's the clutch. I've driven stick for most of my life and have never had a clutch problem before.

Thanks!!!!!!