Hey guys, I have a 2004 TL with about 28,500 miles on it. The last 2 days that I have enthusiastically driven my TL, meaning that I have used my Tiptronic Transmission quite aggressively, I noticed a burning smell coming into the car.

When I put it into regular Drive, the smell slowly goes away. So it only seems to happen when I am driving in a very spirited manner going back and forth from the 2-5 gears.

I know enough to know that this is not good, but I am curious to hear your feedback on this. Could it be that the transmission is starting to have some problems now?

What are the other potential reasons for this burning smell coming? Thanks for your input guys, as always!

 

The transmission is sealed and you should not smell anything from it, even if it was on fire inside...
Maybe stuff burning off the exhaust or brakes.

Brett

 

So just stuff burning off the exhaust or brakes? the brakes, I've never smelled burning before... but I have heard people say that transmissions start giving off a burning scent when they start going bad. Or when the Transmission fluid becomes too old. I suppose and hope that I am wrong.

 

Maybe, but the fluid is under pressure and inside the transmission.
There are lines running to the radiator (for cooling) but it should be a sealed system except for a small vent someplace to stop pressure from building up.

Pull the dip stick and smell the fluid, that will tell if its the tranny.
If you like driving like that, look into a transmission cooler.
And change the fluid more often...

Brett

 

You sure it wasnt your brakes? Maybe its the oil your burning....hard driving will do that...

 

brett, thanks, I didn't check the tranny fluid yet, but I did check the Engine fluid, and moomaster_99, it was pretty dark and smelly, as opposed to when you get a fresh new motor oil change. Could it be the motor smelling like that?

I don't think it was the brakes, because if it were the brakes, the smell wouldn't go away at all.

So my initial question - is this burning smell a sign of tranny problems is not a valid question huh?

 

Its your motor oil...go change it...it'll feel better...your car will be happy again. Any spirited driving will drive up the temps of all your fluids....so just be careful...and check your tranny fluid...if its too dark...you might consider having it changed.

 

I am definitely gonna make an appointment to have the car serviced tomorrow. Its kinda weird though because I thought our TL told us when it was time to get it serviced with its A1, B1, etc. messages...

 

Not enough information really to diagnose.....thats what Brett is getting at, I think. Due to the fact it goes away and only occurs when you are getting on it....one could stab at anything from the brakes smelling to an oil leak that only really starts "burning" or smelling when the motor gets really hot and you start jumping on it hard...possibly causing it to leak faster and drop on the exhaust, ect....but thats a major far cry there..... my guess is its something simple like your brakes your smelling or you undercoated your car and the hot hot exhaust pipe is heating the undercoating a bit. Lots of us can tell you by the smell....but that takes training and familiarity of fluid smells, brakes, clutch smells, ect. Take somebody with you on a test drive that can tell the difference in simple motor oil and transmission fluid...if they can tell you that...they are likely to be able to tell you everything else too (ie. what brakes smell like, ect)....cause the dif between transmission fluid and motor oil are pretty marked....and if they know this....they'll know what heated brake pads, ect smells like too. We need more information or to smell what it smells like to tell you whats up.

 

thanks MichaelBenz, appreciate it. I am no mechanic, but I know when I am smelling burning motor oil... that was one of the first things I learned because of my father's old ass buick when I was growing up.

So from everything you guys have said, it is most likely my motor oil, which does look very dark and burnt. I only thought it was the tranny because when I go hard on the tiptronic and thats only when the smell comes in. This has only happened twice mind you.

thanks guys!!

 

Does the auto transmission have a dip stick?
If it does, all you have to do is pull it and smell.

In manual transmissions, you can sometimes smell the clutch if you abuse it, but I never heard of smelling an auto transmission after using it hard.

Brett

 

When the transmission in my previous car, a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee, blew up three times in a row I didn't smell a thing. The SUV just stopped proceeding forward.

 

Ya...you wouldnt necessarily be smelling anything because the trans is going out....would most likely be some type of "feel" than a "smell" that would be a precursor to this. I mean clutch is one thing...but on an automatic it wouldnt smell and again...you would be feeling something odd like slippage before you would ever smell anything....and I am with most here....you prob wouldnt even smell anything then until it was totally fried and you were waiting for the tow truck.

 

It's a TL bro, not a Boeing 747 :-)

And you do drive crazy blue...last time we were in your car you thought you had a manual like me

hehehe

 

So how spirited were you driving? Does it involve twisties? I only ask, becuase in my other car, it makes a burning smell when I really beat on it, but was the rear brakes from the stability control kicking in all the time. (Though it was mostly only noticeable when the pavement was a little damp)

 

just racing people, thats all... nothing involving twisties.

bounce shaaaaaaad up

 

All twisties require you to disable your VSA....if you are going to push it.

 

hehe, LMAO @ Twisties....although I know Blue doesnt do all that...just get your motor oil changed bro...it would be the win :-)

 

If you're going to drive that crazy with an auto, i HIGHLY recommend a tranny cooler.

 

does Acura have a tranny cooler? or can i use any brand? recommend some please

 

If you're going to get a cooler, get an OEM one if possible to avoid warranty hassles. Otherwise, flush the system completely with a "Majority-Synthetic" ATF for Honda Z1 apps. I'd recommend either Specialty Formulations Autoglide Honda Z1 or Amsoil Universal ATF.

If you decide to do a complete change of the fluid, make sure you have 10qts of the fluid on hand, and follow these steps:

1) Remove fill plug
2) Remove drain plug.
3) Clean magnetic drain plug, replace washer, and reinstall.
4) Refill with 3 qts of new fluid through the fill plug, and reinstall fill plug hand tight
5) Disconnect return line from the cooler, place into measuring container.
6) Start car, and allow 2 qts to pump out.
7) Refill 2 qts through the fill plug
8) Repeat steps 5-7 two additional times, to "flush"out as much of the old ATF as possible.
9) Upon refilling the transmission for a final time, replace the fill plug washer and reinstall the plug.
10) Check fluid/top-off if needed.