Burning smell

[Sp0_0k]

It was our first trip at freezing temperatures with a new cali.
And I finally heard it turning on the webasto.
What worried me tho some burning smell when I was idling warming up the engine at around -10'c.
Is it just some components still burning out?

 

[WelshGas]

Probably. Just like the Diesel Parking Heater can smell more the first few times.
The Webasto is on the L side of the engine with the exhaust in the area of the L wheel arch.

 

[Hotel California]

Probally the pre-coolant heater , as it does not kicks in that much it can smell diffrent then the aux-heater that heats the rear of the Cali.
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/diesel-heater-on-starting.5941/

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/should-i-have-1-or-2-heaters.12043/

 

[Loz]

I had the same first time I started in the cold 2 weeks ago, seems to have stopped now.

 

[MattBW]

I had a horrible smell recently from the webasto set on a timer, I think it was a particularly still day and the exhaust was recycling through the webasto. It worried me at first but hasn't repeated so far.

I also find in the cold on a short trip it can make the van smell on a car if the engine hasn't got fully upto speed. Not sure if its the cat or the coolant heater but I had similar on my last diesel with short trips.