A New Smell/Odor To Ponder....

T

tenro1

New member
Driving 2001 T4R. 239K miles, 2WD......

I have noticed over the last couple of days a new smell, pretty sure it is coming from my rig, as it doesn't seem to matter where I am or who I am behind....

You know that smell of air and rubber you smell down near your tire when you are putting in air or letting air out? That is the smell I think I am smelling when the vehicle is moving down the road...so I am pretty sure its not the tires leaking....in fact, I just put air back in the tires last night after letting out about 2lbs on each wheel last weekend...no leaks..each tire was right where it was supposed to be pressure-wise.

So, I am trying to figure out what it is.....at first I thought it might be radiator fluid, but, it really doesn't smell like it, and I am not seeing any obvious signs of a leak anywhere, and the levels are good.

So - any thoughts on what this smell is?
 
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Check your valve covers, especially the back end of them, nearest to the firewall. They are notorious for leaking, and the slow seeping oil can drip onto your exhaust manifolds and burnm giving you that odd rubber/oily smell
 
On one occasion I over greased the driveshaft zerk fittings and grease was slung on the exhaust. Didn't smell like tire air though.

Good luck
 
Valve covers are good, recently checked, but will check again. I think this may have been a problem at one time a few months ago before I bought the vehicle, as i have evidence of a valve cover leak but I believe someone tightened them down before selling the vehicle...I had a burnoff smell off the bottom of the engine and I believe the exhaust right after buying in Dec, but, that has long since gone.

Amazingly (to me), since my purchase in Dec, the vehicle does not appear to be leaking or burning off any oil at all, as my level has remained very consistent, on the mark, and the oil still looks good (not dark on the stick).

This smell, strangely enough, does not smell like something burning, which is what has me confused. And it doesn't happen all the time when I am driving either....its more internittent, and is not particularly strong either, it just sort of wafts in through the air vents I think...I notice it....and after a few mins, it goes away. Very strange.

zgensler31 said:
Check your valve covers, especially the back end of them, nearest to the firewall. They are notorious for leaking, and the slow seeping oil can drip onto your exhaust manifolds and burnm giving you that odd rubber/oily smell
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Pour a quart of Mylanta in it,:jk: Check all your hoses to see if one is touching anything hot. Hoses can be resilient before they finally burn through giving off that odor. Just my $.02 Good luck
 
you guys are sick...just sick.

But, good suggestions none the less...can't wait to get out there and pour in that Mylanta and check for mice.

By the way, does the Mylanta induce a pink milkshake...?
 
tenro1 said:
This smell, strangely enough, does not smell like something burning, which is what has me confused. And it doesn't happen all the time when I am driving either....its more internittent, and is not particularly strong either, it just sort of wafts in through the air vents I think...I notice it....and after a few mins, it goes away. Very strange.
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Does the smell change any if you turn the heater fan on or off? My first thought was moisture getting in to your heater ducts.
 
Good thought.....I hadn't even considered that...I have been alternating between cool and warm the last couple of days due to weather changing day to day...I will check that out and see if that might be the cause...

Thanks!


JimG said:
Does the smell change any if you turn the heater fan on or off? My first thought was moisture getting in to your heater ducts.
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:wink2:

Thanks Chimpy....by the way, it would have been nice to have a DIY w/ pics on the Mylanta solution....
 
tenro1 said:
:wink2:

Thanks Chimpy....by the way, it would have been nice to have a DIY w/ pics on the Mylanta solution....
Click to expand...

The more I think about it, maybe just a couple Rolaids in the oil fill would do the trick. Could keep them in the glove box. Just our little secret though, okay?:tape:
 
I was thinking, why stop at Rolaids? I should just go all out and get a prescription from the Dr for Prilosec.

chimpy said:
The more I think about it, maybe just a couple Rolaids in the oil fill would do the trick. Could keep them in the glove box. Just our little secret though, okay?:tape:
Click to expand...
 
Dude I just passed 200k and this same exact issue EXACTLY as described has been goin on with my truck over the past 500-1000 miles. I do live in AZ but it's not even that hot yet so idk. I don't leak oil or anything, but the smell definitely concerns me when I do catch it.
 
Thanks BabyBasherrr - stay in touch, let me know if you figure anything out on this.

Michael


BabyBasherrr said:
Dude I just passed 200k and this same exact issue EXACTLY as described has been goin on with my truck over the past 500-1000 miles. I do live in AZ but it's not even that hot yet so idk. I don't leak oil or anything, but the smell definitely concerns me when I do catch it.
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I got that same problem here, mines has 170k miles and I've found some oil leak coming from the rear vc, I have all the parts to change it out, hopefully I can get this problem fixed quick
 
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