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Odd smell and sudden drop in MPG

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by disgustipated, Mar 13, 2023.

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  1. Mar 13, 2023 at 7:22 AM
    #1
    disgustipated

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    disgustipated [OP] Member

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    Good morning yall,

    Lately I've noticed a strong smell almost like natural gas or propane while driving/idling and now I'm seeing a pretty drastic and sudden drop in fuel mileage. I filled up the other day and it looks like I'm getting 50 miles to a quarter tank. No CEL... yet. Seems to be running just fine. Ideas?
     
    disgustipated, Mar 13, 2023
    #1
  2. Mar 13, 2023 at 10:30 AM
    #2
    Patural_Light

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    Patural_Light Active Member

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    Sounds like a plugged catalytic converter.
     
    Patural_Light, Mar 13, 2023
    #2
    Hunter gatherer, Area51Runner and Digiratus like this.
  3. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:01 PM
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    Digiratus

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    Do you have a Cali spec'd truck with 2 cats?

    I agree with the previous post. The rotten egg smell indicates the cat(s) are failing. Are they originals? How many miles?
     
    Digiratus, Mar 13, 2023
    #3
    Patural_Light likes this.
  4. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:03 PM
    #4
    andrewtheadventurer

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    andrewtheadventurer Well-Known Member

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    Somewhere probably
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    an empty wallet
    Id recommend removing, relubing then reinstalling plug
     
    andrewtheadventurer, Mar 13, 2023
    #4
    ToyoTaco25 likes this.
  5. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:08 PM
    #5
    garetcurry

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    garetcurry Well-Known Member

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    what
     
    garetcurry, Mar 13, 2023
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    cryptolime, treyus30, Taco critter and 1 other person like this.
  6. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:11 PM
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    Digiratus

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    Your comment seems rather inappropriate to me.
     
    Digiratus, Mar 13, 2023
    #6
    cryptolime, andrewtheadventurer[QUOTED], Patural_Light and 2 others like this.
  7. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:16 PM
    #7
    disgustipated

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    disgustipated [OP] Member

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    Not Cli spec. One cat, original cat, 225k miles.
     
    disgustipated, Mar 13, 2023
    #7
  8. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:20 PM
    #8
    Xbeaus

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    Xbeaus Well-Known Member

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    How is your gas cap? Is it holding pressure? Might take a while for a code to pop up. The smell you have could be from something in the EVAP system.
     
    Xbeaus, Mar 13, 2023
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    Area51Runner and Taco critter like this.
  9. Mar 13, 2023 at 12:22 PM
    #9
    Digiratus

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    225K is not really that high. There are probably other underlying issues going on to cause this. And aside from the loss of fuel efficiancy, if you live where they require emissions testing you'll likely fail.
     
    Digiratus, Mar 13, 2023
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    Area51Runner and Taco critter like this.
  10. Mar 13, 2023 at 1:43 PM
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    Area51Runner

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    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    Could try this, not going to hurt anything.
    $27 Cataclean Fuel & Exhaust System Cleaner – Pass Emissions Tests – Clear Check Engine Lights – Restores Catalytic Converters, DPF Filters and Cleans Fuel Systems, 16oz
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BVXM92

    I used this in a camry that was tossing codes for the cat. 1 bottle of this and the code vanished, DTCs were all green and smog passed. Its been several months now and CEL is still off, code has not returned. Stuff did its job cleaning out the cat.
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2023
    Area51Runner, Mar 13, 2023
    #10
    Rambo MARINE Recon likes this.
  11. Mar 13, 2023 at 4:32 PM
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    andrewtheadventurer

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    andrewtheadventurer Well-Known Member

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    how do you guys adjust your poop plugs?

    whomp there it is
     
    andrewtheadventurer, Mar 13, 2023
    #11
    Delta09 likes this.
  12. Mar 13, 2023 at 5:57 PM
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    treyus30

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    treyus30 70% complete 70% of the time

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    treyus30, Mar 13, 2023
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  13. Mar 13, 2023 at 6:06 PM
    #13
    Digiratus

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    They normally don't die early like that. What was the underlying cause?
     
    Digiratus, Mar 13, 2023
    #13
  14. Mar 13, 2023 at 6:08 PM
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    treyus30

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    treyus30 70% complete 70% of the time

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    Not a clue - it was right after I purchased it. Been running a magnaflow ever since
     
    treyus30, Mar 13, 2023
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  15. Mar 13, 2023 at 7:06 PM
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    andrewtheadventurer

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    andrewtheadventurer Well-Known Member

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    *you're

    whomp there it is
     
    andrewtheadventurer, Mar 13, 2023
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  16. Mar 13, 2023 at 7:25 PM
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    herrindude

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    herrindude 1996 2.4 extra cab auto

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    ARE camper shell
    Unbolt cat, get carb clean, or brake clean or ang good cleaner, let it soak then just water hose it clean. Check with a flashlight. Rinse and repeat. Do this till clean and re-install. Done it many times.
     
    herrindude, Mar 13, 2023
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  17. Mar 13, 2023 at 7:25 PM
    #17
    herrindude

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    herrindude 1996 2.4 extra cab auto

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    And dont forget to dry.
     
    herrindude, Mar 13, 2023
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  18. Mar 14, 2023 at 7:36 AM
    #18
    disgustipated

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    disgustipated [OP] Member

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    Thanks! curious, when you had to do this were you experiencing similar symptoms? Stink and bad mpg?
     
    disgustipated, Mar 14, 2023
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  19. Mar 14, 2023 at 8:28 AM
    #19
    hooliganrick

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    hooliganrick Well-Known Member

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    Did your area switch over to different gasoline blends? Here in San Diego, you can tell when a car has gas from mexico and gas from one of the regular stations. The same sulphur smell.
     
    hooliganrick, Mar 14, 2023
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  20. Mar 14, 2023 at 8:30 AM
    #20
    cryptolime

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    cryptolime Here to Help

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    fixed it for you.

    try some high rpm driving to clean the cats out. you may also need new spark plugs. bad gas can do this too.
     
    cryptolime, Mar 14, 2023
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    Patural_Light[QUOTED] likes this.
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