New Corvette Stink??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 132
From: Port Coquitlam BC
New Corvette Stink??
Have a new 2023 HTC.
Can't remember from when I brought it home from the dealership 3 months ago, but since insuring and driving it last week, it is giving off a terrible smell from the back end(insert joke here!).
The car has 200kms now, and when I park it, I notice a smell which I will describe more as a burning plastic smell. Very noticeable. It is not the standard run-in smell from a new car. Has anybody else had this?
I did remove the rear bumper cover to replace the Z51 Sspoiler with a high wing. When putting it back together, I did not see any wiring that would potentially come in contact with the exhaust. Also removed both wheelwell liners, bit same thing - no areas that would come into contact.
Thoughts, or suggestions in what to look for?
Rob
Can't remember from when I brought it home from the dealership 3 months ago, but since insuring and driving it last week, it is giving off a terrible smell from the back end(insert joke here!).
The car has 200kms now, and when I park it, I notice a smell which I will describe more as a burning plastic smell. Very noticeable. It is not the standard run-in smell from a new car. Has anybody else had this?
I did remove the rear bumper cover to replace the Z51 Sspoiler with a high wing. When putting it back together, I did not see any wiring that would potentially come in contact with the exhaust. Also removed both wheelwell liners, bit same thing - no areas that would come into contact.
Thoughts, or suggestions in what to look for?
Rob
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 1,138
From: Cincinnati OH
I believe the stink is normal-- there's a lot of bonded, glued parts and they smell for a while when heated by the engine and exhaust. It goes away after a few thousand miles -- you just need to drive it more.
Pro
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 545
Likes: 286
From: Lords Valley PA
No unusual smell here, other than the typical new car smell (interior). Sounds like something was not put back together properly after your high wing install. Suggers you focus you attention there.
Al Engel. "Save the Wave"
Al Engel. "Save the Wave"
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
Probably residual oils and grease as is typical on newly assembled engines. Subaru engines are notorious for this--hints of a whitish fog would evaporate from my BRZ's engine bay and exhaust for a few weeks when it was new. It smelled like a less intense version of burnt clutch though it may have just been the smell of evaporated oils mixed with the smell of a virgin clutch also being broken in. But if you're seeing big clouds of smoke in weird colors, then I'd get worried.
Last edited by switchlanez; Apr 25, 2023 at 10:37 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 132
From: Port Coquitlam BC
Probably residual oils and grease as is typical on newly assembled engines. Subaru engines are notorious for this--hints of a whitish fog would evaporate from my BRZ's engine bay and exhaust for a few weeks when it was new. It smelled like a less intense version of burnt clutch though it may have just been the smell of evaporated oils mixed with the smell of a virgin clutch also being broken in. But if you're seeing big clouds of smoke in weird colors, then I'd get worried.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 245
Likes: 132
From: Port Coquitlam BC
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
Still most likely various oils/grease burning away. The smoke is more a Subaru thing as they probably slather on various greases and Loctite on bolts, etc. more generously than other marques. Don't need to see smoke for it to be true. My Mustang had the same smell when new but no visible smoke. Thought it was my clutch but after 50k miles it's still springy, easy to depress, and grabs hard with a generous friction zone like new. It's safer for car makers to lube slightly more than needed rather than less than needed and it's impossible to lube exactly as needed with risk of being slightly under-lubed. Knowing that, a smell is logically unavoidable given a newly assembled powertrain that hasn't been fired up for extended periods of time to burn away all the excess grease from manufacturing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,617
Likes: 1,805
From: Mandalore
I've also gotten similar break-in smells when I'd buy aftermarket stainless steel exhausts. Which perplexed me because exhausts don't have moving parts that need to be lubed. But oils or chemicals other than SS may be required just to assemble them. For sure there was Loctite that I'd apply on header back or catback systems. And gaskets are composite materials that bed in to conform at pipe joints and discolor or become brittle after extended use. The initial "cooking" during break-in can also give off a smell. The engine is full of gaskets that likewise haven't been fully bedded in and can emanate a smell during that process.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 290
Likes: 248
To me, the Vette breaking in smells like no other car I’ve had. That said, I’ve never had a car with so much bonded material before and composite, etc…. Smells like a boat factory and I love it every time I walk back into the garage after a good ride 😂
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 19,975
Likes: 6,776
From: Bonneville Salt Flats
Sure it doesn't smell like a long dead animal? Such is a recurring report across many Vette Forums here. 
(ironically perhaps, at one time [C7] the New Owner Survey actually asked about new car smell)
(ironically perhaps, at one time [C7] the New Owner Survey actually asked about new car smell)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 806
Likes: 1,276
Definitely break in smell. Happened to me with my first Stingray, and I'm sure it's going to happen with the second one. It smells to me like some nasty burning oil. That's just a good ol' American V8 getting itself sorted out!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 340
From: Just About 40 Min's from NYC
I also have a 2023 HTC , Mag ride performance exhaust . Built Feb 13& 14th and picked up March First 2023 and currently has just under 3800 miles on it . Since new there has been an odor in the truck area ,Like fiberglass resin (the material you would make a fiber repair with ) it was much stronger when new and is subtle now, Most pronounced after a hour ride or a 1/2 ride with the exhaust in performance mode . I know its heat related and it must be near a bonded seam that the bonding material is heating up . if I put my jacket in the trunk and then put it on after a hour ride ,I can smell the odor in my jacket for a day .
When was your car built
When was your car built
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,045
Likes: 12,412
From: NE South Carolina
I agree a bad smell is probably more an adhesive curing rather than the small amount of real tanned animal hide Napa leather used only on the seating surface of the high end seat; the GM coined name Mulan faux leather or Vinyl interior material.
As you state, lots of adhesives used in the C8 construction. ~4 times more adhesive length than in the C7.
