BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (Full Version)

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BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

  

inked -> BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 8:09:05 PM)

Hey HF,
 
So I brought my H3 into the shop on Wednesday and left it there for 6 freakin' hours to find out what the heck was this burning smell I had coming from my engine.
 
It all started when we did this run up this place called Peacock Flats, the funny thing was we smelled it coming down from the run. Now whenever I accelerate over 50 or climb hills I get this synthetic burnig smell. Doesn't smell like gas or oil burning but more like plastic or something.
 
A wheeling buddie of mine who works as a tech at the dealership couldn't find a thing wrong with it. He recomended I change my gas to a higher octane and I did that today but I am still getting that burning smell.
 
Any of you have an idea on what's causing this??
 
I'm aching to get this thing dirty again and have been only puddle chasin' around the area where I live to get my 'dirty fix' because until I can find exactly what's causing this burning smell I really don't want to take it out on the trails yet - thanks!

  
shortbus -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 8:55:33 PM)

what did you run through on your run to peacock flats?  my truck always smells like burning dirt because of the crap caked onto the exhaust.  have you tried pressure washing the engine and exhaust system?  those are the only things that will get hot enough to start something smoldering, so unless it's wiring starting to melt, it's most likely going to be something that splashed onto your truck, or one of those plastic shopping bags wrapped around your exhaust.

Dennis -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:35:51 PM)

Maybe you got a peacock stuck up in there somewhere

inked -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:40:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis

Maybe you got a peacock stuck up in there somewhere


Yeah...maybe - LOL!!!

Hey shortbus, I pressure washed the underneath and like I said the Tech went through the entire engine and found no leaks at all. I crawled under myself and there's nothing around my exhaust. What about the gas idea, you think that may work? I just realized I added the higher octane but to a quarter filled tank. Maybe I should wait until it's completely empty and try it again. The burning smell after adding the higher octane could've just been the lower octane burning off??

Heck man, I dunno - all I know is I'm missing all the action on the trails because of this [:(]

Dennis -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:48:03 PM)

Check your transmission fluid and see if it looks burnt.

How are you smelling this?..through your vents? I'm wondering if you're smelling coolant from a leaking heater core.

shortbus -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:51:01 PM)

i still think it's something stuck up there that's getting hot.  pressure washing will get most, but not all of the crud off.  unless you're dennis, then the pressure wash hits every crack and crevice (every crack ! ! - i crack me up).  i can't see how burning a different octane will make any difference, other than make your wallet thinner.  unless you have an exhaust leak, which should have been found, a different octane will do nothing.  whatever is creating the smell is on the outside of the mechanical parts, maybe crud on the inlet pipes for your heater (of course, if you're in HI, i doubt you use or know where the heater is).  do you notice it as soon as you start the truck, or after driving a few miles?  could be something grabbed a cable or something and twisted it until it's rubbing against a moving part.  did you see any leaks, oil or any other kind of lube that shouldn't be where you saw it?  if it's something you smell quickly, just start the truck, open the hood and stick your nose around.  crawl underneath it too.  just don't get your nose too close to the exhaust pipe.  as much fun as that would be for your buddies, you probably wouldn't enjoy it.

inked -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:54:44 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis

Check your transmission fluid and see if it looks burnt.

How are you smelling this?..through your vents? I'm wondering if you're smelling coolant from a leaking heater core.


3 years as a radiator mechanic bro - I know coolant smells ;) It is however coming through the vents, it doesn't smell electrical such as wires burning either, like I was saying it smells almost like plastic burning.

The smell only comes whenever I accelerate over 50, or climbing steep hills - you still think it's the trans fluid? I'm going to run outside right now anyway and check it out...brb - thanks Dennis

inked -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 9:58:52 PM)

trans fluid looks good bro...

inked -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:06:00 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: shortbus

i still think it's something stuck up there that's getting hot.  pressure washing will get most, but not all of the crud off.  unless you're dennis, then the pressure wash hits every crack and crevice (every crack ! ! - i crack me up).  i can't see how burning a different octane will make any difference, other than make your wallet thinner.  unless you have an exhaust leak, which should have been found, a different octane will do nothing.  whatever is creating the smell is on the outside of the mechanical parts, maybe crud on the inlet pipes for your heater (of course, if you're in HI, i doubt you use or know where the heater is).  do you notice it as soon as you start the truck, or after driving a few miles?  could be something grabbed a cable or something and twisted it until it's rubbing against a moving part.  did you see any leaks, oil or any other kind of lube that shouldn't be where you saw it?  if it's something you smell quickly, just start the truck, open the hood and stick your nose around.  crawl underneath it too.  just don't get your nose too close to the exhaust pipe.  as much fun as that would be for your buddies, you probably wouldn't enjoy it.


Yeah man no leaks nothing, the smell does come into the vents though. I smell it with the windows up and AC on.

My wife just told me that her friend who also owns a H3 had the same smell, she ignored it until one day while trying to pass someone on the freeway she stepped on the gas and only went about 20 mph - she took it in and did get it fixed. I'm going to give her info to my buddie over at the dealership so he can check to see exactly what happen to her vehicle, maybe then this mysterious smell will be found.

blackstangs281 -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:08:10 PM)

If you fly me over there for a week or two, I'll be glad to look at it for ya.[:D][:D][:D]

Dennis -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:12:46 PM)

Hmm, thats wierd...Since you have A/C on while this stink comes in..are you also on re-circulate too?..this will help you decide if the smell is from the inside or the outside

shortbus -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:15:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dennis

Hmm, thats wierd...Since you have A/C on while this stink comes in..are you also on re-circulate too?..this will help you decide if the smell is from the inside or the outside


that's a thought right there.  did you step in a pile of local critter manure?  maybe as you go faster, your fan spins faster and wafts the aroma of partially digested vegetation and other minute bacterial microbes around the cabin of the truck.  i know Maui had some massive cow pies at one of our sites above Kihei, i thought it was quicksand and i'd never hit solid terra firma . . . .

Dennis -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:55:37 PM)

It other words..do you have chit on your shoes?...[:D][:D]

But it also could be a fungus amongus growing in your evaporator plenum

Dennis -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 10:57:39 PM)

Oh..Maybe it's your fan speed resistor block and it gets hot as hell...Do the H3's have these even for fan speed control?

inked -> RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE? (1/5/2007 11:56:46 PM)

Well it's not stink like $#!t - more synthetic, plastic...It can't be heat either because I drive my truck all day and no smell, it's only when I'm climbing hills or accelerate over 50.

The run we had up peacock flats was a good 5 hours of driving all up steep hills, rough terrain and no smell. It wasn't until I tried climbing a hill to test the flex on the H3 I noticed the smell, of course I was revving the engine to get my H3 up there. Normal driving - no smell, accelerating over 50 - smell - strong burning smell but no smoke. Weird, I know.

  

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