I just got back from a wheelin trip to Moab. I was pulling a 30' GN with 2 crawlers on it grossing out at about 20K lbs. I do not have a chip on the truck just the mods in my sig. Anyways, as I was pulling the BIG hills on I70 through vail and such myself and the guys in my truck noticed an interesting smell from the engine. The smell was hard to describe but very noticeable. It really smelled like the engine was was hot. Pulling the hills my truck was in 2nd gear about 2600RPM's 1150-1250*. The engine temp gauge never moved from normal operating temp but I could hear the fan clutch kick in on the hills. I pulled this same load a couple times over the summer and had the same smell. I guess I noticed it more this time because the heater was on.

Does this sound normal?? Any one else towing notice this smell?? Any help would be great.

 

I would take a look at the up-pipes, maybe a leak at the doughnuts at the baby butt. Look for soot on the firewall behind the turbo. Was your boost gauge up around 20lbs?

 

It's hard to say. I've pulled those hills on I-70 with my fifth wheel and gotten my pyro up to around 1100 degrees also. I've smelled only a whiff of anti-freeze because my degas cap wasn't sealing well. The engine though, smelled like it should, hot and working.

Check your oil, antifreeze and tranny fluid levels. Also check around the fuel filter housing for leaks. You may have a small leak of a fluid that dripped on the exhaust or something else warm and caused the odor. Did you smell it in the cab?

 

Do you have a good trans cooler ( not listed in signature)..? Your trans is going to get pretty warm pulling 20K.

 

I had wondered about trans as well

 

Sorry guys. Yes I have a trucool trans cooler in line with the stock cooler. On this trip it never got over 150* and during the summer trips with load it never got over 180* on the big hills.

When are we supposed to do a coolant flush on these trucks?? I have checked for leaks coolant, fuel, exhaust, etc and no leaks found at all. Does anyone know how hot the engine needs to get to make the engine temp gauge move?? Thanks guys!!

 

Also I don't have a boost gauge so I have no idea what it was. I only have EGT and trans temp gauges.

 

Maybe you have a small leak in the heater core and it's antifreeze you are smelling.. It has a odd sweat smell..

 

Last month I pulled Vail pass with a 24' enclosed car hauler trailer and had that funny smell too. I assumed it was just the turbo getting hot. I had to keep out of the throttle often to keep my egt's down... Consequently I'm guessing I have a boost leak, just havent had time to find it yet. Hopefully I didnt burn up my turbo.

Had the same situation as the OP, fan engaging, 2nd gear, funny smell that went away once the load was off/downhill. The smell was deft. not antifreeze - I know what that smells like.

For those who have never driven (towed) over Vail... its a B!*%H!!!!

 

Yes it definately was not an antifreeze smell. That is what I thought, hot turbo smell and maybe the smell of the sound deadining stuff on the fire wall getting hot. And it went away once I was on the other side off the gas. Also I never noticed it while pulling the smaller hills, just the really big ones.

 

Check your valley for an oil leak. Might have spilled down the back of the engine on the incline.