Hi everyone,

 

I have a new car (1.5TSI 150hp M6) with about 1300 km on it. Today, while driving out of my garage, I was on an incline and gave it a bit more gas in first gear. I reached only about 3000 RPM, and this lasted for max 2 seconds. Shortly after, I noticed a smell that seemed like the clutch, but it only lasted for about a minute and then disappeared.

 

I haven't noticed any other issues with the clutch, like slipping or trouble shifting gears. Everything seems fine during regular driving. Is this something I should be concerned about, or is it normal in situations like this?

 

Hello welcome to the forum.

3000 RPM seems rather high for manoeuvring, even on a slope - how steep was the slope?  

It is pretty steep, i would say it is 45 degrees, it happened on entrance to my underground garage, when I was leaving out a pedestrian came along, i had to brake, and when i started moving again the car went backwards and i gave a little more gas.

3 hours ago, Oslo11 said:

It is pretty steep, i would say it is 45 degrees

 

🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

In your dreams!!!!!!!!! Was the pedestrian roped up and wearing a climbing harness?

 

The smell is normal considering the abuse the clutch endured, its a very sickly smell since asbestos was banned from use in friction linings and seems to hang around for a very long time, you can still smell it under the bonnet a long time later.

Edited 21 September, 20241 yr by J.R.

You misunderstood the situation 😭 The street where the pedestrian was walking is, of course, not at a 45-degree angle. The 45-degree incline I mentioned refers to the ramp leading into my garage, which is perpendicular to the street. 

In your dreams 45°

It is maybe 30°, 25°... I don't know, I didn't measure it, nor is that so important for the topic.

1300KM on the car, 5000KM on the clutch 😁

Edited 21 September, 20241 yr by SuperbTWM

When I was picking up my car, the dealer has specifically warned me that there could be some funny smells from engine, transmission and brakes during the run-in period. So I would not be concerned in your situation. 

God there are some pedants on this forum, never known anything like it. 
 

sometimes my car has a smell like burning clutch, usually if I’ve given it some extra gas pulling away or on a hill start. 
 

unless it keeps happening a lot then I wouldn’t worry too much. 

I’d think it would be unsurprising if you had the clutch partially engaged, reviving at 3K RPM for 2 seconds. 

2 hours ago, Dillers said:

God there are some pedants on this forum, never known anything like it. 

 

If you think the difference between a 45° slope (now down to 30°, 25° and I dont know) and what will almost certainly be less than 15° (building and access to highways regulations) is pedantic then we will have to agree to disagree.

 

14 hours ago, Oslo11 said:

It is maybe 30°, 25°... I don't know, I didn't measure it, nor is that so important for the topic.

 

It is relevant because the load transferred and heat dissipated by the clutch is very much dependant on the gradient, you say it is a steep slope so the clutch smell is to be expected, I have read reports that the 1.5TSi engine has a flat spot at low RPM and has to be revved slipping the clutch to avoid stalling on hillstarts, I think there was a recall for a software update so I completely understand why you had to abuse the clutch in the way that you did, I have had to do the same myself against my will and the sickening smell that lingered was doubly sickly to me.

@Oslo11 If you don't make a habit of it, then I can't see this one off incident making a difference to the function or the life of the clutch.

Not a habit at all, this was single case (I left my garage with Octavia for more than 30 times so far). However, it was much easier to drive on this slope with my old Focus MK1 1.8tdci, I could easily keep RPMs below 1.5k on the slope and never had any issue with the clutch for last 11 years. Probably I have to find an uphill to practice little bit with Octavia