Burnt plastic or paint odor in brand new 4.6

[bilmat]

I picked up my brand new platinum/black 4.6 w/Tech on Friday. The car had a total of 32 miles on the odometer this morning when I began a day trip from the S.F. Bay Area to the Sierra foothills to visit a cousin. Just returned with the odometer now showing 220 miles. The good news is, the trip computer says I averaged 26.2 mpg (with 91 octane). The possible bad news is, on three occasions at highway speed with the windows and sunroof closed, I could smell an odor that was reminiscent of burnt paint or plastic. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. The first time I noticed the odor I was about 50 miles into the trip. The second time was about 60 miles later, and the third about 40 miles after that. The odor lasted less than a minute on each occasion throughout the 188 mile trip. The temp gauge looked normal each time I noticed the odor, and there was no difference in the performance of the car.

This was not uncommon on some new cars I have purchased over the years as the heat from the manifold and exhaust would sometimes create a similar smell from newly painted surfaces under the hood and engine, so I'm not in a state of panic. Yet.

Has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Bill in Fremont, CA

 

[Duaine]

I picked up my brand new platinum/black 4.6 w/Tech on Friday. The car had a total of 32 miles on the odometer this morning when I began a day trip from the S.F. Bay Area to the Sierra foothills to visit a cousin. Just returned with the odometer now showing 220 miles. The good news is, the trip computer says I averaged 26.2 mpg (with 91 octane). The possible bad news is, on three occasions at highway speed with the windows and sunroof closed, I could smell an odor that was reminiscent of burnt paint or plastic. It was barely noticeable, but it was there. The first time I noticed the odor I was about 50 miles into the trip. The second time was about 60 miles later, and the third about 40 miles after that. The odor lasted less than a minute on each occasion throughout the 188 mile trip. The temp gauge looked normal each time I noticed the odor, and there was no difference in the performance of the car.

This was not uncommon on some new cars I have purchased over the years as the heat from the manifold and exhaust would sometimes create a similar smell from newly painted surfaces under the hood and engine, so I'm not in a state of panic. Yet.

Has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Bill in Fremont, CA

Just a thought........ I had what smelled like hot plastic in my 4.6 Genesis. Check the back seat vents on the back of the console. When it is set to the hot position no matter what you have the auto climate control set to it gets terribly hot! It was hot enough it was causing an odor. I have since adjusted that to mid range and the temp is down and the smell gone.

Otherwise you may be right and are smelling new parts until the car gets broke in good. I was thinking the new parts smell wore off my Genesis at around 300 miles or so. Good luck to you and your new 4.6 Genesis!!!

 

[PINGGOLF]

Yerp! Enjoy the NEW CAR SENT! It will be gone shortly! HA!

I believe that is what your smelling. When the engine is put together, small amounts of lubricants are used and they are burning off when the engine gets hot.

 

[Jimbo46]

I had this problem and it goes away in time!

 

[bilmat]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I checked the backseat vents after reading the first response. They were open and the temperature control was set to cold, so it's unlikely the odor was coming from that location. I'm going to assume (hope) that PingGolf nailed it. Time and a few hundred more miles will tell.