So I have had this smell in my cab for about 6 mos. It happens after truck gets warmed up and seems to be under load. I thought it was the tranny because I always saw dripping under there. I gave in and went to the dealer to help figure it out yesterday. They called me and told me they couldn't find and tranny leak or smell after a short ride and totally cleaning the undercarriage. $108.00 for the diag and dye additiveThey put Dye in the tranny and oil to track any leaks.
I told them that it has to get really working etc. I told them I will pick it up go for a good ride to work it and bring it back. Sure enough smell in cab started. I took it right back to the dealers truck shop. The same tech took it in and put it on the lift. I was also in the shop which was rare for a dealership. I was under the truck with the tech along with the flashlight/ black light looking for leaks. So tranny case was bone dry. (good thing) I know the heater core and coolant is good because i changed the core and complete coolant change last week. After much searching a 2nd tech helped out with the looking and saw the ICP was blowing oil out through the connector. We replaced it right there ($180.00) Cleaned out the valley with brake cleaner and all is still nice and clean and dry in the valley after 80 miles on freeway. I still smell a little burning on the drivers side. I just snooped around above the motor. Valley is dry and nice and clean. I then went under the truck on the drivers side. After looking with a high powered light i noticed the up-pipe at the manifold elbow has some oil looking stain on it and a small amount of seeping running down the motor case above it etc. Now it may still be residual from yesterday since the bottom was not re cleaned. I plan on re cleaning it tomorrow and wait and see what happens. where would this oil drip from? the turbo pedestal or base? But wouldn't there be oil on the valley then? I do have a mirror on a long flex that i can get back there to look around but i need to know where to look. I also need new up pipes and was thinking of going with the international ones. My donuts are leaking and have soot all around the flange. I plan on towing my toy hauler on a long trip in like 5 weeks and really don't want any o ring blowing out while towing. The problems is how can i find the leak if it is the turbo pedestal or base? The dye is still in the system and the tech said it will glow green under black light. I may take it back to the dealer to look real quick. any help would be great. Thanks

 

I just had a thought.. Maybe the rear of the drivers side valve cover? have anyone had this type of leak there? thanks jeff

 

Ok this is all about smell....... Whats it smell like? Its a long shot but have you checked your CCV tube? it could have a hole in it. Or the CCV that sits on top of the DS valve cover theres 2 orings there but you should see oil from the top of the VC down if its leaking.
Riffraff Diesel: International Bellowed Up-pipe Kit 99.5-03 The best you can get for the other problem

 

Does it smell like burning oil, transmission fluid, or exhaust?

For the oil stain, spray it with brake cleaner and see if it comes back. Yes the valve cover can leak oil down the back of the motor. There's also a plug on the back of the head at the oil rail that is sealed with an o-ring. Sometimes that o-ring fails and the plug leaks oil.

 

What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

The plug was cleaned and checked when i was at the dealer with them . it was bone dry there. i'm thinking maybe the valve cover at the back end on the drivers side. the oils seems to run down the outside rim where the tranny get bolted to the motor then it drip on the elbow of the up pipe. It also seems to do it more going up hill. that would also explain the valve cover leak. Another issue and question is I have leaking up pipes. I want to replace them with the International ones. Should the manifold also be replaced since they are the original on my truck with 200k. Then i was also thinking to go ahead and replace the turbo pedestal o ring etc all at once. would this make the up pipe job smoother? so it would be .. replace manifolds, up pipes and turbo pedestal o rings. the turbo pedestal o ring was replace at 100 k but i'm sure it will go right after i do the up pipes so i thought it would be better to do them all at once. and the leak may as well be discovered. sure is a tough one to find. thanks Jeff

 

If your manifolds are not leaking theres no reason to pull them or replace them, that could turn out to be a bigger job than you might think because most of the time the bolt rust to the manifold making it impossible to turn the bolts out. You would more than likley have to cut the bolts between the manifold and head leaving enough room to put a pipe wrench on the bolts to spin them out.
To fix the uppipe leaks your going to have to pull the turbo. So yes your going to want to replace the top and bottom orings, theres 4 total on the pedestal.

 

Make sure all the VC bolts are tight. 8 lb/ft is the torque spec.

 

leak found, it is the turbo (figures) but in the far back running down and drops on the up pipe. Sine the turbo will be coming out to repair the leak I am installing the International bellowed Up Pipes since mine are leaking too. poof 500 bucks in parts.. but it should run real nice. thanks Jeff