White Smoke And Burning Smell....

[mcskiver]

Hi,

I've just bought a 53 reg Celica from a main dealer, and it seems fine overall, but....

If I rev the engine whilst not in gear (I did it the other day just because I wasn't quite in gear properly) and a few seconds later I get quite a strong burning smell for a few seconds... i'm a bit baffled by this.

Then the other thing i've noticed is that there seems to be a bit too much white smoke when i'm driving - generally when just starting the car at lights etc. Seems a bit more than normal, though again only for a few seconds.

I know this sounds a bit vague, but it just doesn't seem right. Any advice would be appreciated...

[sotal]

I'm only guessing here so it's probably best to wait for some others to post as well but as nobody else seems to be about I may as well guess!

The burning smell could just be something small like something spilt on the manifold which burns but I would have thought you would smell it more often.

The white smoke is probably just steam, as you sit at the lights water will gather in the exhaust then when you accelarte it will all be forced out as a cloud of steam, I have noticed that Celicas seem to do it more than other cars - not sure if it's a fault or not.

As you bought the car from the Main Delaer I would pop back and say about the burning smell, and show them they should sort what ever it is.

[mcskiver]

Cheers Sotal,

I didn't think it was anything major, and it could well be steam from the exhaust, but it's comforting to know that others have noticed it at least.

The burning smell is a weird one, as I don't see why I shouldn't be able to rev freely when not in gear. Like you say I should just take it back to the dealer.

Cheers for the advice.

[Special Red]

Just like sotal said Toyotas seem to do it alot more than most, mine does for example. As for the burning smell then it if its more noticable when stopped then it may be something on manifold or even some plastic stuck to your exhaust from say driving over a dicarded carrier bag(a friend of mine was baffled for weeks with the same thing). Have a good look under the car and maybe get someone to rev it whilst you have a look around.

[Teenage_Kicks1980]

In regards to the smoke/steam, don't forget that at this time of year there is alot of moisture in the air.

Plus as it been decat'ed?

[Spuffington]

I've got a Gen7 T-Sport and when it cold starts, there's loads of steam from the exhaust. Remember, the VVT and VVTL-i engines run very rich at start-up (and do smell a bit normally on start-up - normally running at around 2,000rpm for a minute or so) and as others have said, there is a lot of moisture in the air at the moment.......plus the relative temperature and humidity of exhaust gases does create this 'steamy' mixture. Nothing to worry about.

If you had blue smoke, then that'd be a problem!

As for the smell, did you have your foot resting lightly on the clutch? The clutch is quite 'sensitive' and can be very smelly even if you 'ride' it slightly when reversing or creeping along in traffic if you're unable to let it out fully.

Oh, and welcome to TOC!