What Causes the Burning Smell During Sudden Acceleration in an Automatic Transmission?

[ColeDella]

Automatic transmission cars emitting a burning smell when the accelerator is suddenly pressed down does not necessarily indicate component damage. When the accelerator is pressed hard, the engine's RPM becomes excessively high, which can cause a burning smell. Below are the relevant explanations: 1. Overheating Transmission: If the automatic transmission is a dry dual-clutch type, the clutch plates can become very hot after aggressive driving, emitting a burning smell. This smell will disappear once the temperature decreases. 2. First-Time Heating of Plastic Components in New Cars: For new cars, plastic components in the engine bay may emit a plastic smell when heated for the first time, which is normal and will fade over time. 3. Overheating Tires: After aggressive driving, tire temperature rises and may experience some wear. Hotter tires can emit a burning plastic smell.