Burning rubber SMELL

[BoxsterLL11]

I am fairly new to the Porsche marque having only had my 987.2 2.9 PDK for just over a year.
Over this weekend, I have noticed a burning rubber smell from the back end when I park up which I have not smelt before since buying the car.
I have consulted a number of on-line forums, all of which seem to imply it is "normal".
And as several other people have commented on, it seems strange that this should be "normal" for such a manufacturer such as Porsche.
The general consensus is that due to the close proximity of the exhaust to the rear tyres, it is the tyres picking up debris off the road and throwing it up towards the exhaust. But this seems strange I am smelling this now a year after ownership.
Can anyone else shed some light on this?

I am certainly learning about the idiosyncrasies of owning a Porsche.
This time last year (in a spell of cold weather), I heard a grating noise when reversing with the steering on full lock - apparently this is due to the steering geometry of the Boxster and the Ackermann principle !!!
I have only learnt last week about the build up of debris in the front bumper air intakes which can rot the bases of the rads away (if not regularly cleaned out) - black ABS mesh to be ordered very soon.

Are there any other such things I should know about?

 

[MrDemon]

I have noticed a more rubber smell this wetter weather, so very normal, and the faster hotter you get the car the worse it seems.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

That is what puzzled me, that I have first noticed it in damp/wet conditions.
Any idea as to the reason why?

 

[BrianJ]

My 986 Boxster and 987 Gen II Cayman S both exuded that strange rubbery smell from the rear wheel arches occasionally, apparently completely randomly. Didn't seem to be linked to how hard or gently I had been driving, the weather, or anything else I could fathom. It seems to be quite normal for these cars. The 981 Boxster S doesn't appear to do it all.

 

[Stuart_Lauder1]

I also have similar on the 986 it's my daily and I use the M4 everyday, when ever I smell it I check my Tyre pressures and they are usually a few PSI down as I do so many miles. So if you get the smell check the Tyre's...


Stu

 

[Peter_Bull]

Nothing to worry about at all, its normal. I had this on my 997 and also on my current 981 Cayman.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Well its comforting to know that the smell doesn't indicate that there is something wrong.
But having been an inspection engineer for 30+ years, its still puzzles me as to its origin and when I have nothing more important to do, I might just jack the car up & have a look .............
Then again, I might not.

 

[DBarx1]

I have a 2015 981 Boxster S (purchased Sept '16) which emits the same burning rubber smell every time I drive it - it has 3000 miles on the clock and I get the same smell come rain or shine. The car is currently with OPC Swindon having its first service and an exhaust upgrade so they have given me a brand new 718 Boxster to use in the meantime; I have had it since yesterday (until Friday) and it has 690 miles on the clock; it too emits the same burning rubber smell after every time I drive it.

What's the 718 like? Handles brilliantly but I expected more power with the turbo kicking in low down in the rev range and the noise takes some getting used to. I have been given the base model 718 rather than the S which would have been a better comparison with my own car; I understand the 718S is an altogether different animal. Anyway, enjoying the change whilst I have it but I won't be parted from my 981 Boxster S anytime soon - even if it does smell of burnt rubber!

 

[MrDemon]

I also expected more power from the 718, but I dragged raced one in my R and it only took 1/2 a car out of me.
I guess they have to only give that little bit more so every model get the normal 10bhp upgrade.

 

[gouldian]

11 years in 986 "S" and 4 years in 981 "S" and rubber smell for whole time, particularly after a longer run. No problems as a result, unless of course the tyres are slowly melting under me!

 

[gouldian]

11 years in a 986 "S" and 4 years in 981 "S" and smell of rubber when stopping, particularly after a long run, but not presented any problems unless of course the tyres are slowly melting under me!!

 

[robertfarrer]

My 986 is the same for the rubber smell. Always quite evident when it goes into the garage hot, after a run. Not so evident when just parked up on the drive, but occasionally catch a wiff.
Not being technically minded I just put it down to a hot engine in a small confined space with lots or rubber around it or attached to it.

 

[Steve Lyle]

My 981 is also "smelly" at the back end on random occasions but after nearly 18 months with no subsequent issues it appears it is nothing to worry about. It has also suffered from the tyre scrub when reversing or going forward on full lock. I understand this is to do with the suspension geometry (although I have never experienced this on any other performance cars I have owned) and having recently had the front negative camber increased by Centre Gravity I can confirm it has got worse (as they said it would)!

 

[Pthornley]

Plus one

mine does this every now and then too. i would worry but my last 2 demo courtesy car 981s also did the same

 

[carnaby35]

They all do that sir??????

 

[frankibaby]

Hi there as to the burning smell my 996 does it as well after even quite a short run I've noticed the rubber smell , I'm thinking now it is quite normal , as for the condensors at the front , yes check them , I had Sanspeed of Bexleyheath replace the condensers and fit the black mesh you mentioned , so far all good . Happy porschibg ... regards
frank

 

[supersport]

Having borrowed a couple of these new fangled kettles [] and having followed a number of Porsches of all kinds over the years, it does seem to be something particular to the water cooled cars. They often seem to emit a burning smell that you can pick up whilst following or walking around when hot. Were as the older cars tend to have a more oily smell. It does seem to be stronger on new cars, but that probably isn't surprising, it's just how strong the smell is.

 

[DrSimon]

All perfectly normal. I get it in my 987 S, especially after a bit of a blatt around the country lanes. I haven't experienced it yet in my 997 but I haven't had a chance to take it for a decent spin so far.

 

[Temmplar]

New Member!
Noticed the rubber smell a few months back when I first got my 987 s
Put it down to ....ahem....vigorous driving but then noticed smell still there after a tootle around and the tyres still cold!
Have put it down to a quirk of the car and on joining pcgb and reading this post would appear so from general consensus.

 

[BoxsterLL11]

Since starting this thread I have switched form a 987 to a 981.
Just this morning taken the car for a short mediocre blast and smelt the burning rubber smell as soon as I started to slow down.
Have also noticed that the front tyres judder on full lock when reversing the car much more than the 987 so assume that the steering geometry is even more "extreme" on this car on full lock than the 987.