Oil smell in cab when towing heavy
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Ft. Worth, TX
Oil smell in cab when towing heavy
The last several times I've pulled my travel trailer (10k lbs), I've noticed a strange smell in the cab. It smells like motor oil, and it is only noticeable after towing on the highway for a while, and then coming to a stop. Once I start moving again, it goes away. It happens after 5 miles, and after 100 miles. Any time I come to a stop, I can smell oil (A/C on, windows up). When I get out of the truck though, the smell goes away. I can't find it under the hood, under the truck, or anywhere else. I also don't notice the problem when driving unloaded.
I don't have any leaks that I can find, so I'm kind of at a loss as to what is going on.
Any thoughts?
I don't have any leaks that I can find, so I'm kind of at a loss as to what is going on.
Any thoughts?
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 8,241
Likes: 155
From: L.A. (Lower Alabama)
Gonna be a small oil leak somewhere. You didn't mention using any oil so it may not be making a mess. The only thing I can think of to explain it only happening while towing would be the Crank Case Ventilation system. The engine can huff more under load and the CCV dumps the fumes in the intake tube on the drivers side. Might want to pull CAC tubing and check around that area. There is a write up in the tech folder for modifying the CCV system to help reduce the oily mess. If it's just a minor annoyance, running the a/c in recirculation mode will reuse air from the cab instead of pulling in new air from the cowl vents (where the oil smell is collecting).
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Ft. Worth, TX
It's not using any oil, or leaving any on the ground. Also can't see any residue from under the truck. There could be a small leak somewhere that is drying before it gets to the bottom of the engine though.
I hadn't thought of the CCV causing it. I've been thinking of doing the re-route mod for a while and make use this as an excuse to pull the trigger.
I hadn't thought of the CCV causing it. I've been thinking of doing the re-route mod for a while and make use this as an excuse to pull the trigger.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,340
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From: Bradenton, FL
The last several times I've pulled my travel trailer (10k lbs), I've noticed a strange smell in the cab. It smells like motor oil, and it is only noticeable after towing on the highway for a while, and then coming to a stop. Once I start moving again, it goes away. It happens after 5 miles, and after 100 miles. Any time I come to a stop, I can smell oil (A/C on, windows up). When I get out of the truck though, the smell goes away. I can't find it under the hood, under the truck, or anywhere else. I also don't notice the problem when driving unloaded.
I don't have any leaks that I can find, so I'm kind of at a loss as to what is going on.
Any thoughts?
I don't have any leaks that I can find, so I'm kind of at a loss as to what is going on.
Any thoughts?
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