what is that smell?

So yesterday, on my way home, I went to pass this guy on a slight upgrade just after a stop light. I was doing about 25 in 3rd gear, and tried downshifting to 2nd. It didn't want to go into gear, so I tried sticking it back in 3rd, no luck for a few seconds, then I started to smell burning oil, thick and heavy smell of oil. Could see no smoke, oil pressure light didn't illuminate, checked oil when I got home and it was good. Also, I had no further issues and haven't smelled it since. Any ideas, maybe tranny oil needs changing? With as strong as the smell was, it has me concerned.

 

Sure it wasn't the clutch burning?

 

Gasket leaks near the manifold?

 

Very well could have been. Never burned one before, this is my fifth manual vehicle...would that smell like I described it?

 

** your title, couldn't help it

http://youtu.be/WjAPoN8qs0Q

 

A burnt up clutch smells just like burnt up brakes. have you ever driven passed a semi Truck that had smoked his breaks? Or have you ever driven an older vehical with out abs and questionable brakes hit the breaks at a great amount of speed and by the time you got to actually stopped the brake pedal was on the floor and there was a funny smell? thats what a smoked clutch smells like.

 

well usually you only smell a clutch burning when you are riding the clutch. (which would result in a backhand from mom, since she is the one who taught me how to drive a manual) unless you have something else going on with it. then those pressure plates get hot and burn its a very sharp nasty smell. and it will come up from the floorboard. since you were having trouble getting it into gear, it sounds like the clutch was not fully engaged.
and even if you had gridded the gears for a second or two that would not cause the smell.

 

LMAO, I knew someone would hit me with the Skynyrd! Yeah, come to think of it, it did smell quite a bit like burning brakes. So is the clutch going out? I also notice every now and again, it's rough putting her in reverse and it'll click when it drops in.

 

Once you do get it in gear it runs fine? Then I would be thinkin clutch from what you describe

 

me either.

 

Nice bump

 

smoking your clutch once isn't the end of the world. I would keep driving it. If it starts to give you problems with shifting through the gears with normal driving then yes you need to get a new clutch and prolly resurface the flywheel. but if it doesn't give you any problems I wouldn't worry about it. Another thought and forgive be because I don't know does your toyota have a hydrolic clutch or a cable clutch? The possible reason you smoked your clutch could be either the clutch master cylinder or the clutch slave might be starting to fail and when you pushed the clutch pedal in it didn't fully disengage the clutch.

 

Me too...

 

Sheeeiittttt, no idea. It's a 2002 TRD. How would I figure that out, I'm no mech, but I'm willing to learn. That's why I joined TW.

 

If you have a hydrolic clutch there will be a small resivuor with break fluid in it just to the left of your brake master cylinder. At least every time I've seen ine it was to the left.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out. And mods, sorry.