Odd burning smell from my 2011 987.2 CS PDK... dealer says its normal

I have approx 16k miles on a 2011 CS and the car has started emitting what I can describe as a burning odor after driving it for about 20 minutes. I brought it to the dealer and they threw it on the computer as well as put it up on the rack. The computer registered no faults and there was nothing leaking or stuck to parts that get hot. They said what I am smelling is the dual clutch in the PDK and its normal. Now mind you, this is my daily driver and I don't beat on it nor do I track the car. Honestly, my daily 20 minute commute never gets above 45 mph. I am having a hard time ignoring the smell because it seems like something is wrong. The last thing I need is to drop a transmission (I assume that the clutch inside the PDK is warranted unlike a manual clutch).

My 2012 with 5500 km on it emits an odor that is like a combination of burning oil and overheated brake pads whenever it's driven for 20 minutes or more (even gently). When driven hard, the smell starts in a couple of minutes and is 2x the intensity. It's done this since new...I assumed is was the Cosmoline burning off, but that should have been gone long ago. Nothing is leaking...and it's not throwing any codes. Seems plausible that it's the PDK clutch, but it's not a big concern as I can only smell it outside the car when I stop. Inside the car, even with the windows down, I can't smell it when the car is moving (maybe I could smell it with the car stopped and the windows down...but I have no reason to do that). Actually, I've learned to love the smell; reminds me of being in the hot pits at the track ;-)

My car emits the same gas, don't worry about it, if you do a search this question has come up before. Mine has 17,200 miles, bought it new, so far no issues.

Well, you are not smelling the clutches in the PDK. The thing's sealed.. Geesh. But the smell is normal. I mean you have one big fat and with any driving hot tire right outside your door. Along with the tire the exhaust is right next to it, along with over 400lbs of hot alum., plastic, steel, and rubber hoses. The cars come with a coating of cosmoline to protect the metal surfaces from corrosion. The car's engine location means the underside of the engine gets splashed from road spray kicked up by the front and rear tires. This cosmoline will outgas for a while. And bits of paper/plastic/trash occasionally come in contact with the very hot exhaust manifolds and you'll smell this. I even found a charred piece of clear plastic on top of the engine of my Boxster once. A new smell will be after you drive the car in the rain. The rain splash will hit the hot exhaust and you'll get a sort of metallic/ozone smell. To be safe, be sure all vital fluid levels are ok.

Glad others have this smell, I was beginning to wonder myself. As for clutches being sealed and not smelling them, not sure how that works as you frequently see road testers referring to the smell of the clutch after they have abused one lump of metal or another. My wife thinks I drive like a loon every day because of the smell when I put it into the garage.

When I first got it, there was definitely the smell of cosmoline burning off but at 16k miles, I cannot imagine there is any left (or they used an awful lot of the stuff). This is a different smell as well. It comes from right by the air intakes to the engine. My wife even noticed it last night and she always thinks I am just crazy.

I think that this would be related to normal manual dry clutches that are air ventilated. The PDK as far as I know is dual multiplate wet clutches that run separate closed / sealed oil cooling for both clutches. :cheers:

I have an 07 and it smells like burning rubber every time I drive it. I don't think it is an issue as I have put 100,000km (66,000 miles). The only annoying part is when I pull it back into the garage and my Mom or Dad tell me to stop burning rubber! Talk about injustice!

Mine's a manual and I have the smell, too. I was told it could be from PSM applying my rear brakes if I drove a little too spiritedly around corners, applying throttle a bit generously... :drivingskid:

These posts have been VERY reassuring! Thanks guys! Just got back from a Sunday afternoon drive where we got caught in a toad strangler on I-95 with very heavy rain for several miles. When we pulled into the garage, there was a very."hot" smell and lots of heat coming out of the wheel wells especially in back. Mine is a 5 speed '07 and I don't ever remember having this before nor does my wife. Thought I might have developed a serious issue until finding these posts.