Brand Spankin' New... Skunk Ass Ammonia Smell....

[NutZac]

Hey Guys,

I just purchased a 15' 4R Trail, my 3rd Toyota truck (08 FJC, 13 TACO) and I've never smelled this before. I have all of 300 miles on my truck (its only 3 days old), and when I hit about 70 MPH I get this very strong ammonia smell mixed with skunk ass. I think it may be something as simple as the cat breaking in, but I'm not sure, and I figure I'd ask you guys before I take it into the shop. This is the first time I smelled it, which I could attribute to being the first day that Im driving with the windows down and the A/C off.

I asked the dealership about engine break in and they told me not to worry about staying under a certain speed for a certain amount of miles, same as my other trucks.

Any insight??

-Z

 

[spencenasty]

Hey Guys,

I just purchased a 15' 4R Trail, my 3rd Toyota truck (08 FJC, 13 TACO) and I've never smelled this before. I have all of 300 miles on my truck (its only 3 days old), and when I hit about 70 MPH I get this very strong ammonia smell mixed with skunk ass. I think it may be something as simple as the cat breaking in, but I'm not sure, and I figure I'd ask you guys before I take it into the shop. This is the first time I smelled it, which I could attribute to being the first day that Im driving with the windows down and the A/C off.

I asked the dealership about engine break in and they told me not to worry about staying under a certain speed for a certain amount of miles, same as my other trucks.

Any insight??


-Z

Time to blade at 45..

 

[NutZac]

Time to blade at 45..

I dont get it....
:sadwave:

 

[1engineer]

Yeah. Roll up the back window when you are accelerating. Cats don't break in. You are smelling the catalytic converter as it reaches a specific temperature and the chemical reaction that happens at that temp. Before you complain about it you will see in your owner's manual a passage that tells you not to drive with the back window down. If you insist on doing that you have two choices:
1. Learn to like that smell or
2. Have a custom pipe made that turns out to the side of the vehicle.

I have driven several hundred miles with the back glass down and on flat ground and easy acceleration you have no odor. In the city or in the mountains you will get that smell a lot as you are accelerating a lot. Don't waste your time at the dealer for this issue.

 

[NutZac]

I did find this in a different thread.. But I am using 97 Octane.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1585374-post6.html

 

[NutZac]

Yeah. Roll up the back window when you are accelerating. Cats don't break in. You are smelling the catalytic converter as it reaches a specific temperature and the chemical reaction that happens at that temp. Before you complain about it you will see in your owner's manual a passage that tells you not to drive with the back window down. If you insist on doing that you have two choices:
1. Learn to like that smell or
2. Have a custom pipe made that turns out to the side of the vehicle.

I have driven several hundred miles with the back glass down and on flat ground and easy acceleration you have no odor. In the city or in the mountains you will get that smell a lot as you are accelerating a lot. Don't waste your time at the dealer for this issue.

Thanks!! I guess Ill have to have a pipe made, because I love driving with the windows down, its as close as I can get to my old Jeep TJ!! When my son is in the car Ill be leaving it up...

 

[WTERUNNER]

Hey Guys,

I just purchased a 15' 4R Trail, my 3rd Toyota truck (08 FJC, 13 TACO) and I've never smelled this before. I have all of 300 miles on my truck (its only 3 days old), and when I hit about 70 MPH I get this very strong ammonia smell mixed with skunk ass. I think it may be something as simple as the cat breaking in, but I'm not sure, and I figure I'd ask you guys before I take it into the shop. This is the first time I smelled it, which I could attribute to being the first day that Im driving with the windows down and the A/C off.

I asked the dealership about engine break in and they told me not to worry about staying under a certain speed for a certain amount of miles, same as my other trucks.

Any insight??

-Z

It will go away as you put more miles on it. My SR5 did this when I first got it. I have 600 miles on it now and the smell isn't as bad. I'm assuming with more miles it will go away completely.

 

[1engineer]

It will go away as you put more miles on it. My SR5 did this when I first got it. I have 600 miles on it now and the smell isn't as bad. I'm assuming with more miles it will go away completely.

You assume wrong. I have had three 5th gens and have put 77K, 63K and now 20K on them respectively. You still get the smell under acceleration when the cat gets to a specific temp.

 

[Jeremy556]

I dont get it....
:sadwave:

I get the reference (from another forum), but not sure what it has to do with your post... :noidea:

 

[Peyto]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/87269-side-exit-exhaust.html
Problem solved for ~$100.

 

[NutZac]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/87269-side-exit-exhaust.html
Problem solved for ~$100.

They dont make the TRD exhaust for the new trucks anymore huh?! They made it for my 13' Taco...

 

[spencenasty]

I get the reference (from another forum), but not sure what it has to do with your post... :noidea:

I'm talking about animals getting in his car.. either he has to blade at 45. or call the cops. they will shoot it for sure.

 

[WTERUNNER]

You assume wrong. I have had three 5th gens and have put 77K, 63K and now 20K on them respectively. You still get the smell under acceleration when the cat gets to a specific temp.

Time will tell. Drove today with the windows down, sunroof open, and back window down and didn't smell anything.

 

[Engineer]

Did any one else find it amusing that his/her user name is "NutZac" and they are complaining of Skunk A$$ smell.........anyways I have 20k on my 2014 and get the same smell but only under hard acceleration with the rear window down, either keep your foot out of it, roll the window up or do some exhaust work are the only reasonable solutions

 

[gm350reratliff]

I did find this in a different thread.. But I am using 97 Octane.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1585374-post6.html

Wow, you can get 97 octane there?!

 

[Saker]

Hey Guys,

I just purchased a 15' 4R Trail.........
I asked the dealership about engine break in and they told me not to worry about staying under a certain speed for a certain amount of miles, same as my other trucks.

Any insight??

-Z

I do think I recall in my owners manual, because I :rtfm:, it does state something about this....

worth looking into, but hey....its your T4R!

 

[Peyto]

I do think I recall in my owners manual, because I :rtfm:, it does state something about this....

worth looking into, but hey....its your T4R!

From page 161:


To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recommended:

For the first 200 miles (300 km):
- Avoid sudden stops.

For the first 500 miles (800 km):
- Do not tow a trailer.

For the first 1000 miles (1600 km):
- Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
- Avoid sudden acceleration.
- Do not drive continuously in low gears.
- Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.

 

[LandCruiser]

I am familiar with the odor you describe, but have only elicited it when seriously hammering the engine (i.e. 75 mph outside of Trinidad with a truck fully loaded with 1500 pounds of crap).

...just saw the "blade at 45" response, lol.

 

[Saker]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/87269-side-exit-exhaust.html
Problem solved for ~$100.

yep, this will fix that issue!

 

[NutZac]

I do think I recall in my owners manual, because I :rtfm:, it does state something about this....

worth looking into, but hey....its your T4R!

:tape: