IS MY TRUCK GON' BLOW UP?!?!?!

Hey guys, im having an odd smell im having some trouble tracking down, it happens so random that its hard to pinpoint, the only causes that are constant to when it happens is the heater/fan is usually on, and its when i come to a complete stop at a stop light or whatever, i usually cant smell it at all when im driving down the road, the only way i can describe the smell is it just smells hot, i originally thought it was from an oil change i recently had and maybe they spilled some oil on the exhaust or something and it was just burning up? but i doubt that now. i don't think it smells like coolant, but like i said the smell is very odd.

likely suspects: brake pads? heater core? oil on the engine? coolant leak?

any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks fellas.

 

Look at the color of the coolant, is there rust also? When was it changed last? Mileage of truck? Is the temp gauge going up (if you have one) when you are stopped?

 

rust in the coolant? i couldnt tell u the last time the coolant was changed, i havent changed it since Ive owned it, (about a year) it has 92xxx miles the temp will creep up to around 212 when sitting but never any higher, that is on my ultra gauge the actual gauge never moves up, the truck is supercharged so it does tend to run alittle hot.

 

If it only occurs when the heat is on, your heater core might be on the fritz. Giant PITA.

 

but its only when i'm stopped, would that be symptoms of a heater core?
also most the time it doesn't even make the noise.
this is why im kind of leaning towards bad brake pads, just because it usually does it after i stop and will sit at a light for a sec the smell is there when i go to drive off it goes away.

 

Im sure you have considered this but every oil leak ive ever had you couldn't smell till you stopped. One was so bad smoke literally billowed under the hood at red lights if you drove for to long. The air movement is keeping the smoke(fumes) away from the air intake for heater. Once you stop and bam, stuck with just smokey air to push into cabin.
Quick check would be to put air on just internal circulation so your not pulling outside air. Would be a quick fix as well till you can fix leak.

 

so i just drove for a bit, and the smell came for a sec, when i got back home i left the truck on and stuck my head around the engine while it was running i didnt smell ANYTHING

 

do u guys think its possible that maybe im just smelling the fumes from other cars at a light? idk it dosnt really smell like exhaust tho..

 

The engine temp is fine? Check the belt.

 

what belt are u thinking of? on my ultra gauge the temp varies between 194-212 but i think thats fairly normal temps for a supercharged truck. the temp gauge on the dash never goes up

 

When is the last time you replaced the engine accessory drive belt?

 

i want to say i changed it when i did my supercharger belt last year, do belts stink?

 

Maybe if they slip or are worn. Any muddy deep water running, lately?

 

nah no mud, its been going on for as long as ive owned the truck.

 

Ok. I guess it will blow up. Sorry, I'm no help.

 

you run 212 degrees as your average high temp?

Thats seems very high, Mine sits at 195-200 max no matter what even hauling close to 800-1000 extra lbs up a grade.

I would drain all of your coolant, replace thermostat and refill with Toyota OEM red coolant then see if that fixes anything.

Also it wouldn't hurt unless its been done recently to replace your transmission fluid and look into replacing your timing belt and all other drive belts when you replace the thermostat since it is all related.

there are plenty of threads on that and you tube videos, its all pretty basic just time consuming.

 

micah, my average temp is 194, the only time ive seen 212 is in high taffic in the middle of summer, right now i am seeing 200 max but i think it would probably be a good idea to get a coolant change

 

When u smell it are the windows up or down? do u have the heater on recirculation or vent? I would suggest to close the vent to recirc, and roll up the windows. If you still smell it, it's likely not coming from the engine bay, more likely a heater core problem. if the smell goes away, likely its coming from under the hood.