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BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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  #1  
Old 01-05-2007 | 11:09 PM
inked's Avatar
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Default BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

Hey HF,

So I brought my H3 into the shop on Wednesday and left it there for6 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!
 
  #2  
Old 01-05-2007 | 11:55 PM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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.
 
  #3  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:35 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

Maybe you got a peacock stuck up in there somewhere
 
  #4  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:40 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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 Techwent 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 waituntil 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
 
  #5  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:48 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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.
 
  #6  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:51 AM
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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.
 
  #7  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:54 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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.
3years 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 stillthink it's the trans fluid? I'm going to run outsideright now anyway and check it out...brb - thanks Dennis
 
  #8  
Old 01-06-2007 | 12:58 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

trans fluid looks good bro...
 
  #9  
Old 01-06-2007 | 01:06 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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 mybuddie over at the dealership so he can check to see exactly what happen to her vehicle, maybe then this mysterious smell will be found.
 
  #10  
Old 01-06-2007 | 01:08 AM
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Default RE: BURNING SMELL FROM MY ENGINE?

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



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