Natural gas/propane smell?

recently I have been smelling propane type smell inside my truck. It is not continuous. I smell it for a minute then nothing for 30 mins or so. I thought maybe it was only when I was going up a hill but I have smelled it at other times too.

Any ideas??

 

Catalytic converter?

 

That's what I was thinking too. How would you even test that? It has a magnaflow cat I think

 

Pulled this from another thread I was reading on...


I tested my Cat with an infrared thermometer. From what I understand, while driving a vehicle that issufficiently warmed up, a healthy catalytic converter's OUTLET should read much hotter than its INLET. For example, on a healthy Cat you might see the temperature readings of exhaust going IN at 400 degrees and come out the other side at 550 degrees (these are EXAMPLE numbers only!!!) So I go for a 30 minute drive, then pull over and take some temp readings. On mine, the temp readings on the outlet side are consistently the same or lower than the inlet....which is one indication there is a problem with the cat.

My next Cat check included hooking my real time scanner up and observing the O2 Bank1 Sensor1 and Bank1 Sensor2 voltage output while driving. Here's my scanner:

for Android Phones ONLY - Wireless Bluetooth Diagnostic OBD2 Scanner Car Code Reader and Scan Tool for All 1996 & Newer Vehicles ELM327 Compatible OBDII

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005NLQAHS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

It's my understanding that the inlet O2 sensor should fluctuate quite a bit (between 0 and 1) as its checking fuel trim, whereas the outlet sensor should be more steady. In my case, they both fluctuated a lot...almost in sync.

After doing my own DIY tests, I decided to take the vehicle in. I dropped it off at my mechanic this afternoon and simply told him my check engine light was on. Nothing more. An hour later, he called and said my cat needs to be replaced and suggested I consider doing the O2 sensors as well. I told them to do the Cat only, as the sensors are a piece of cake to replace

 

Believe I fixed the problem. I had routed the diff breather in the cab

 

Lol, yeah that'd do it.

 

Well, I guess if you had to plug 1 end of the engine into the cab you chose the right one.

 

just curious why you would plumb the diff breather into the cab??

 

I don't have a gas cap area and everything is "open" and I was being paranoid about water and mud and shit lol.

 

No biggie, but you did get a chuckle out of me

 

The breather just needs to be higher than any water crossing level. I put mine in the storage cubby, it was too easy! See my signature link for the thread on how to do the breather mod...

 

I can understand being paranoid I feel the same way about women and sex so avoided it so far .

A few more years and I should be safe

 

Just chain them together and route it towards the top of the engine compt. If you're real paranoid loop the end back down, or terminate it in your air intake.

I can't imagine the kind of hell smelling grear oil all the time must be. I HATE that smell.

 

Gear oil = man perfume

 

I don`t think it smells anything like the chemical added to propane .

Gear oil has it`s own smell one never forgets

 

You don't date much do you...?

 

What the? LMAO

 

Oh is that my problem??? I always thought it was the unique 'vocabulary' that wrenching has taught me!
I thought gear oil attracted gals like 'sh!t attracts flies'! The things you can learn on this forum.... Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. Thanks TW!

 

OP, just a heads up...don't do that if you decide to upgrade your exhaust.