This is a debate we have at almost every pro touring event I announce. Why? Well at least once during the event, and usually several times more, someone will smoke the clutch on their hot rod and I will proclaim that nothing smells worse than burnt clutch. At which point someone will inevitably say I am wrong and that gear oil is worse.
It is at this point that I also must proclaim what the holy trinity of smells is, which all BangShifters should know by now. Of course I’m talking about Tire Smoke, Bacon, and Nitro Methane. Yummy!
Anyway, the question for today is of course what smells the worst. I believe it is burnt clutch. Some say gear oil. I know that some of you will have other opinions, which I am okay with, but first make sure you tell us which is worse between gear oil and burnt clutch.
Then tell us anything you think is worse than both of those two.
Have at it!
As inspiration we’ve included the famed Corvette “Smoke the clutch instead of the tires” video from a few years ago. This one hurts to watch.
gear oil
rear ends and transmissions cost more then a clutch
Tough call,my vote is for gear oil, it seems to linger and get into everything….
Very painful video to watch. Way too much money and not enough brain power to stop things when they went bad. The dude should be publicly flogged and forbidden to drive anything above a 4 cyl automatic. Saddddd
Berryman chem-dip will do worse things for a hangover than hypoid or asbestos, but I have to say gear oil is pretty rancid.
Sorry Dudes – but you guys are really reaching today…….
I have had a lot of burnt clutch smell over the years in my Camaro. About 2 years ago on dragweek I started using a disc with metal pads on both sides.
I have burnt enough clutch material to get used to the smell. But, cracking open a 40 year old differential that hasnt been touched since the car was built can smell like some large animal died inside the carrier. Gag!
I have agree with Beagle that Chemdip is far worse. Its the smell that keeps on giving. Get it on your skin and you will smell it for days. Get it on your clothes and it aint never coming out.
I love the smell of gear oil !
Burned gear oil.
I have a sweatshirt that got old gear oil on it 15 years ago and I can STILL smell it on there at times. So that gets my vote. +1 on the Chem-Dip too, but at least you know that the worse it starts to smell, the better it’s going to work.
How about a burning gear oil soaked clutch disc? Mmmmm, now that smells like…..victory.
gear oil with genuine ford friction modifier.
Where is the hair option????
Friction modifier is the worst smell and can really linger. My nephew spilled a whole bottle i the carpet of my brothers 02 dodge pickup while we where rebuilding the diff. It smelled for monthe after even with repeated shampoos and chemical cleaners. It was so bad that my brother needed to get another car to get the family around in and relegated the truck to work only.
Super Clean will clean off most grease and your sinuses too.
40 year old grease steamed off of a Cat DW10 tractor ranks right up there for vomit inducing odeur as well.
Lets face it, they are all pretty awful BUT… but a sandwich locked in a cooler of my friend’s Nova… DURING THE SUMMER…. for 3 WEEKS tops my list of puke-o-rama!!