Clutch smoke like a campfire

adkinsadam1

adkinsadam1

New member
The other day I was in the rural areas of the Colorado mountains and for too many reasons to list here, I ventured a long way down a closed road and got caught in the snow in the middle of absolute nowhere. The snow was like concrete and I spent hours trying to get out. After hours of work I was desperate and was going back and forth in 4-hi, 4-lo, locked rear diff, whatever. Mainly just 4-hi I was having to dump the clutch at high RPM because the tires were digging into the dirt and the snow was so dense... if I dumped the clutch at anything less than 3000rpm, even with my foot on the floor, it would stall.

So I'm reversing and going forward back and forth, wiggling my truck out and I burn the clutch multiple times. It's smoking, cabin filling with smoke. I'd stop and dig for another half hour to hour and let it cool down then try again. At one point the clutch was smoking so bad after I turned it off, I thought the truck was on fire. Opened the hood and the smoke was pouring up like from a campfire and continued for maybe 3 to 4 minutes.

Anyway, long story short, I got out of there. Was worried that I wouldn't be able to drive my truck away due to clutch damage but I could just fine. Finished my mountain road trip, about 500 more miles. Not really noticing any issues except for the clutch smell will not go away. I don't know if it's residual or if it's still actively causing that smell, but I'm not noticing any slipping. Granted I've tried to slip it as little as possible. But I thought I was in the clear until I talked to my local mechanic while changing the oil and he told me, just hearing what happened, that my clutch was toast and I needed to get a new one ASAP. Could result in more damage and catastrophic clutch failure.

Is that true?? What do you think? Wanted to ask the dot org. Thanks!!
 
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adkinsadam1 said:
The other day I was in the rural areas of the Colorado mountains and for too many reasons to list here, I ventured a long way down a closed road and got caught in the snow in the middle of absolute nowhere. The snow was like concrete and I spent hours trying to get out. After hours of work I was desperate and was going back and forth in 4-hi, 4-lo, locked rear diff, whatever. Mainly just 4-hi I was having to dump the clutch at high RPM because the tires were digging into the dirt and the snow was so dense... if I dumped the clutch at anything less than 3000rpm, even with my foot on the floor, it would stall.

So I'm reversing and going forward back and forth, wiggling my truck out and I burn the clutch multiple times. It's smoking, cabin filling with smoke. I'd stop and dig for another half hour to hour and let it cool down then try again. At one point the clutch was smoking so bad after I turned it off, I thought the truck was on fire. Opened the hood and the smoke was pouring up like from a campfire and continued for maybe 3 to 4 minutes.

Anyway, long story short, I got out of there. Was worried that I wouldn't be able to drive my truck away due to clutch damage but I could just fine. Finished my mountain road trip, about 500 more miles. Not really noticing any issues except for the clutch smell will not go away. I don't know if it's residual or if it's still actively causing that smell, but I'm not noticing any slipping. Granted I've tried to slip it as little as possible. But I thought I was in the clear until I talked to my local mechanic while changing the oil and he told me, just hearing what happened, that my clutch was toast and I needed to get a new one ASAP. Could result in more damage and catastrophic clutch failure.

Is that true?? What do you think? Wanted to ask the dot org. Thanks!!
Click to expand...

I smoked the rest of my clutch when i got stuck. When I tore it apart. My flywheel was blue.

Being you really cooked that clutch, to the point you had major smoke in your cabin. I really suspect that your clutch/Flywheel, pressure plate, throw out bearing and flywheel are all toast.
 
The involved bearings, if they were damaged by heat, should soon making noises.
If the clutch starts chattering soon, that'd be another sign.
I'd start setting aside the dough.
I recently had the clutch replaced in my 97, and can recommend the Aisin standard clutch kit. Nice action, better than the old Chinese-made clutch that came with the truck.
 
You've just given me another good reason to invest in a winch.....it's cheaper than dropping a transmission to replace the clutch, flywheel and throwout bearing lol. Seriously dude that sucks, makes me glad I always wheel with my club and someone always has recovery gear and is breaking trail for me. Hope you are able to get it replaced without dropping too much dough.
 
How long do you think I'll be able to go? Is it true what my guy said that if I keep driving with it it will result in catastrophic failure? Wondering if I can drive to California and back before fixing it. Like I said, not really noticing any issues; just trusting what everyone's telling me. Thanks to those who have commented!
 
adkinsadam1 said:
How long do you think I'll be able to go? Like I said, not really noticing any issues!
Click to expand...

Test the clutch a 2nd 3rd gear take off enough RPM's to keep it from stalling
will tell you how bad your clutch is. No slipping good chance you trip will be ok.
 
Basically you took a lot of life off the clutch. It's lifespan is alot shorter. It may hold for a while.

Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk
 
Sounds like you'll be needing these videos. Good luck with the clutch job!


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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mrSRBmFZ1wk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
On a different car I had the same thing as you experienced, smoke pouring out from under the car when I burnt my clutch.
When I split the trans to inspect my clutch and flywheel, I had blueing and micro cracks in the friction surface part of the flywheel.
Im sure the pressure plate, clutch and release bearing went through a extreme heat cycle.
Given that assembly spins at 3k+ rpm, I erred on the side of caution and changed everything in the clutch location. Why take unnecessary chances?
Im sure the clutch is tough and could stay together.
I think my (me overthinking) feet is worth more than the price of a clutch assembly.
 
You certainly used up a huge amount of the clutch's lifespan in a short amount of time, and probably heat damaged the remaining clutch lining material. How long will it last now? Really hard to tell, but I'd really expect you'll need to be replacing it soon. As mentioned, you can check for slip in 2nd/3rd gear. Rolling along, engine at a decent RPM (it makes peak torque at 3600 rpm per the specs), let off on the throttle momentarily, then floor it and listen carefully for any clutch slip. If it slips *AT ALL* you're on a very short timeline to a new clutch. If it doesn't slip at all, I'd guess you can just keep on going, but keep a careful eye on it. Damaged clutch lining will wear far faster.

Once it starts to slip under full torque, it's only going to get worse very quickly, until you're stranded and paying for a tow as well as a new clutch.

And as also already mentioned, I'd be expecting to replace the flywheel as well as the clutch/pressure plate when you do the clutch. Severe heat cycles aren't friendly to cast iron.
 
[MENTION=71960]JohnMc[/MENTION],
"check for slip in 2nd/3rd gear. Rolling along, engine at a decent RPM, let off on the throttle momentarily,
then floor it and listen carefully for any clutch slip."

Had thought of stating it that way seemed too aggressive with his road trip a head.
If he babies it through trip until clutch job might be able to do flywheel resurface when he gets that far.
 
96RedRunner said:
[MENTION=71960]JohnMc[/MENTION],

"check for slip in 2nd/3rd gear. Rolling along, engine at a decent RPM, let off on the throttle momentarily,

then floor it and listen carefully for any clutch slip."



Had thought of stating it that way seemed too aggressive with his road trip a head.

If he babies it through trip until clutch job might be able to do flywheel resurface when he gets that far.
Click to expand...
I doubt his flywheel will resurface. Probably hold out for his trip. Mine flywheel was blued and hairline crackes. I wasn't even stuck really bad. Mine flywheel is junk.

Like others members stated. He just burnt all the life out of it. May hold for 15 to 20k but it's full lifespan is gone. Things happen, and it's really not a majorly big deal. :)

When pressure plates start chattering. Or the clutch material gone. If you don't change the clutch quicky you can blue and hairline cracked your flywheel from the excess heat.

Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk
 
brillo_76 said:
I doubt his flywheel will resurface. Probably hold out for his trip. Mine flywheel was blued and hairline crackes. I wasn't even stuck really bad. Mine flywheel is junk.
Like others members stated. He just burnt all the life out of it. May hold for 15 to 20k but it's full lifespan is gone. Things happen, and it's really not a majorly big deal. :)
When pressure plates start chattering. Or the clutch material gone. If you don't change the clutch quicky you can blue and hairline cracked your flywheel from the excess heat.
Click to expand...

Nobody knows till he tears it down :)

Not a majorly big job, true for Yota's. Do a Audi S5 V8 Quatro clutch dual mass flywheel job you'll know what a majorly clutch replacement is. :wink2:
 
96RedRunner said:
Nobody knows till he tears it down :)

Not a majorly big job, true for Yota's. Do a Audi S5 V8 Quatro clutch dual mass flywheel job you'll know what a majorly clutch replacement is. :wink2:
Click to expand...

Very True. I have done VW Golf clutch that we put a south bend clutch in. The flywheel is very heavy.. My brother has 2 of those..
 
brillo_76 said:
Wow. It took us a little while. I forget how long it took us in hours. Good thing we did it ourselves..:)
Click to expand...

VW not as bad, if Audi Porsche Benz BMW Jag it bend over around here.
Book time 10-12 hrs included $1600 parts.
Got parts for $1400 took around 20 hours I go slow first time doing stuff.
 
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