Bad Smell?

So whenever I put my truck into 4wheel drive and climb the mountains out hunting I get an awful smell in the cab. I am not driving the truck hard or anything, just cruising the Coastal Mountains here in Oregon. truck is a 96 X-cab, 2.7, 5 speed. 205k and counting.

It doesn't smell like burning engine oil, I know that smell. And I plan on doing this anyway, but I have no idea when if ever the 5 speed or transfer case oils have ever been changed. Been elk hunting so haven't had time

Thoughts?

 

Here is an updated picture

 

hmm, check to see if there are any leaks in your diffs. my front diff drips oil and gets on my exhaust pipe and burns. smells horrible. I have to replace the oil seal on the drivers side. Your situation may be similar.

 

Before playing the guessing game here, look under your front diff/engine and look under your xfer case and see if they are wet. Gear oil stinks to high hell and stinks worse if it leaks onto the engine and burns off.

 

ok great. will do

 

Are you sure it isn't clutch smell? Burning clutch smells awful. If you ride the clutch pedal while off road, that could be what you are smelling. Plus, with your mileage, it wouldn't hurt to replace the clutch. Assuming you haven't yet. Just a thought.

 

Smell like rotten eggs? It's your cat.

Smell like burning death that sits in your throat and takes days to get rid of? Gear lube.

Smell like burning cat? It's that cat you ran over and hid on top of your muffler so your wife wouldn't yell at you.

 

this is what I was thinkin also, I know my '97 2.7 5spd feels like it can barely spin all 4 wheels in 4 hi on flat ground. That's why I usually throw it in 4 low if I'm out creeping around in the hills even if its an easy dirt road. Much easier on the clutch and I generally like the gearing better overall in 4 low, sometimes wish it was even lower at times.

 

I've got a 2010 that has a bad smell when I have to do some manouvering in reverse. Has done it since new always wondered about it. Doesn't happen all that often so I never really question it till it happens the next time.

 

If you get a bad smell in the cab, you need to clench harder until you start sweating

 

For the win!!

 

Ha ha!! That's funny!! It's not the clutch. It smells Hot. I would now assume it's either front gear lube or maybe even power steering from the rack and pinion. Been poring rain and haven't had a chance to dig. Post up tomorrow

 

I think the reason gear oil (Gl-5) stinks so bad is the sulphur compund that is used as part of the EP (extreme pressure) additive.