my 2008 4Runner stinks

D

DonnyB

New member
Ok, so anytime I accelerate on the harder side which really isn't all that hard, but just a quicker start, (I'm still breaking my baby in and I pretty much baby the heck out of it,) I get this funky rotten egg, sulfur, nasty smell that comes from somewhere.
I checked the search on here and found that older 4Runners of '03 and '04 had this issue and were issued a TSB to fix and in some cases it fixed it.
Can I use this same TSB to fix whatever it is that's causing the smell on mine? If so, how?
Also, I read that it was a gas problem, soo anyone in the Western New York area or Other NY, PA, or Ontario CA area that know what gas stations to go to and what ones to avoid?
Any fixes for the newer (06, 07, 08) models that anyone has done?
 
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If you're enjoying the nice weather like we are here in jersey, you may be driving with your rear window down. If you only have that down it can cause the exhaust to almost suck back into the car. Not sure if that's your problem but it may be helpful to know.
 
EasternImpact said:
If you're enjoying the nice weather like we are here in jersey, you may be driving with your rear window down. If you only have that down it can cause the exhaust to almost suck back into the car. Not sure if that's your problem but it may be helpful to know.
Click to expand...

I can smell it either way, it's just much stronger with the window down. It goes away rather quickly but it does stink... hopefully it's just a short-term thing while it's breaking in.
 
keep in mind your fuel quality will also give a sulfer smell
it does not mean anything is wrong.. also here in the mid west they are using winter blend fuel already and yes in warmer temps it will smell. i would be if you asked the gas station manager they would tell you they already put winter blend in there tanks .
when you smell the rotten eggs it means your cats are working like they should.
 
I believe this has more to do with the quality of gasoline sold in the U.S. than it does with the 4Runner. If you do a search on the web for gasoline and sulfur smell, you will see that there are many other vehicles that seem to have similar problems - not only the 4Runner. I was behind a newer Xterra just a few days ago, and when he got on the throttle, the rotten egg smell was pretty bad. I even notice it sometimes in my 1997 Subaru.

That being said, I occassionally will add a bottle of Chevron Techron to my gas in order to keep the fuel system clean. I have never seen Chevron claim that it helps with sulfur smell, but I believe it just might. It seems that the smell isn't nearly as noticable to me for quite a while after I use Techron. I wouldn't recommend overusing it, though.

Techron is widely considered to be one of the better fuel additives, and I believe it is approved for use by companies such as Porsche, Mercedes Benz and Volvo. If you check out their website, you will see that Techron does supposedly clean sulfur corrosion from fuel sensors. Perhaps eliminating sulfur smell is a welcome side-benefit as well.

Or, it could just be my imagination.

Check out Techron's site:

Chevron Techron
 
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When I first got my 07 4R, I had the same issue when accelerating hard. Mine stopped making the sulfer smell after a couple thousand miles.
 
i have an 06 sport and i got that smell my dealer told me that its the cadillac converter and that there defective and there is a TSB out on that issue
 
Perhaps its because the cats are coated in sulphur that it smells that way when it temporarily runs "rich" like during mornings or when you give it more then a little bit of gas, the rich condition causes the egg smell. Every newer car ive driven gives off that funny egg smell once you mash it or give more then half gas, i know all nissan's do. I dont think its a sign of a problem, personally, just a annoyance.
 
My 05 has not had the TSB completed, and I'm not sure the smell has changed, maybe my nostrils are burned out from all that sulfur!
I agree its a nuisance, but had they not put in a power rear window, no one would complain.

On a lighter note. I'm driving in town when I see a guy from work, real @hole if you know what I mean. Hes on a bicycle, right side of the road. I rev it up and let the 4runner fart all over him. Try that in a Honda!
 
The dealer told me that is a normal smell for a Toyota if you are in the reformulated gas district.


Use some good gas also step up to Mid Grade. Also stay away from Sheetz and WAWA gas; it is very bad for Toyota. I was filling up with the Sheetz gas and it was really bad... I started filling up with Sunco/Exxon/BP mid-grade and the smell is only there on VERY hard take off for a split second.
 
The gas has NOTHING to do with the smell. It is a design problem and it can not be fixed 100%. There is a TSB to change the cats, that will help but it will not completely stop the stink. SORRY! You will have to live with it. You can do a search and you will find a lot of info on this subject.

Koz
 
Koz said:
The gas has NOTHING to do with the smell. It is a design problem and it can not be fixed 100%. There is a TSB to change the cats, that will help but it will not completely stop the stink. SORRY! You will have to live with it. You can do a search and you will find a lot of info on this subject.

Koz
Click to expand...

The reason I said that it was most likely fuel related is because that is the explanantion I remembered reading from Toyota. I've also read that the problem does not appear in other countries that have cleaner fuel standards.

Granted, this TSB appears to be somewhat outdated, but the explanation as to what actually causes the smell may still be valid. This is from one of their TSBs:

Excerpt from TSB EG003-03, Titled SULFUR ODOR FROM EXHAUST

Some owners of Toyota vehicles may experience a sulfur
 
bonds44 said:
i have an 06 sport and i got that smell my dealer told me that its the cadillac converter and that there defective and there is a TSB out on that issue
Click to expand...

Why would anyone want to convert their Toyota into a Cadillac? :D
 
Koz said:
The gas has NOTHING to do with the smell. It is a design problem and it can not be fixed 100%. There is a TSB to change the cats, that will help but it will not completely stop the stink. SORRY! You will have to live with it. You can do a search and you will find a lot of info on this subject.

Koz
Click to expand...

Every time I see a thread a about sulfur smell I always have to wonder why it seems my 4Runner does not experience this problem.
My 4Runner has the original cats that came with it in 2004. Besides having the rear window down, what other conditions need to be met in order to experience this problem?
Either I have somehow stumbled upon the magic formula to drive a 4Runner that does not stink OR this problem does not occur in all 4Runners.
If the latter is the case then the smell problem might not be a design issue.

Is there anyone else here who has not experienced the smell problem and has not had the TSB done?
 
If you drive like a granny or not give it alot of throttle you wont notice this smell, even with windows down. It most noticable when you give it sudden gas or when you punch it.

charlier180 said:
Every time I see a thread a about sulfur smell I always have to wonder why it seems my 4Runner does not experience this problem.
My 4Runner has the original cats that came with it in 2004. Besides having the rear window down, what other conditions need to be met in order to experience this problem?
Either I have somehow stumbled upon the magic formula to drive a 4Runner that does not stink OR this problem does not occur in all 4Runners.
If the latter is the case then the smell problem might not be a design issue.

Is there anyone else here who has not experienced the smell problem and has not had the TSB done?
Click to expand...
 
Looks like I'll just be driving like a granny then. On a positive note, it'll at least give me better fuel economy.
 
TSB EG003-03, is where majority of the Toyota's fall under.


This Map tells you what areas are using reformulated gas.
formulation_map.jpg



Also you can have a 4Runner and live in the white area and have the "first production" run of cats and not even have the sulfur smell.
 
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