Diesel smell in cab

[AHarris]

Ever since I had EGR service done, I've noticed an occasional diesel smell in the cab. The exhaust is as quiet as it ever was with no signs of an exhaust leak that I could find anywhere and everything seems as normal--except for that damn smell.



I was hoping to find an easy fix for this before driving 50 miles to the dealership to have them troubleshoot it.



Any ideas appreciated!

 

[cerberusiam]

Make sure somebody did not leave a a diesel soaked rag under a seat or in niche somewhere in the truck. You would not believe how much time has been wasted chasing a fuel leak when it was a forgotten rag.

 

[AHarris]

Thanks. I just thoroughly cleaned my truck and didn't find anything under any of the seats or niches in the cab. Any other ideas?

 

[rscurtis]

To be clear, are we talking about a fuel smell or an exhaust smell?

 

[AHarris]

To be clear, are we talking about a fuel smell or an exhaust smell?

It smells like diesel fuel.

 

[RonD]

Just a guess, but if it were me I would be looking at everything that has fuel in it, filter, injectors, fuel lines, everything, starting with anything they had to remove to do the service on what was just done, a clean white paper towel works well for that, just slide it over the lines etc, engine off not running, it's there someplace

 

[AHarris]

It seems I'm the only guy who has had this problem on TDR from something other than a left over diesel soaked rag.

Crapola... guess I'll be making an appt with the dealer tomorrow.

 

[bedroc]

Just a thought, is there maybe spilled fuel from changing the filter and your bringing it in through the AC/heating system intakes? In mine even with the vents on recirc some smells still get in, like a fresh road kill skunk!!! Might try some Simple Green on any spots were fuel has set.

 

[ceomall]

Mine smells like diesel exhaust when ever the truck is 1. stopped 2. in regen and 3. exterior vent is on. It has happened since they replaced my EGR 20k miles ago. The dealer claims it is "normal". I expect a leaking exhaust/egr connection somewhere, but can not find one.

 

[JDinNY]

Check the high pressure fuel lines from the rail to the injectors.
Sounds like one might/could be cracked.

 

[Bigups01]

I have the same smell, I have noticed it since I bought it with 10 miles on it and it wont go away. The dealership looks at me like im crazy, but it smells like exhaust in the cab. I have a 2012. Would like some clear answers

 

[BIZOTCH71]

I have 2013 RAM 3500 mfg. April 2013 and I was suffocated with fumes in the cab. Same scenario as other 2013 owners, cold outside, heater on, fresh air on A/C, smell mostly at idle, stop or traffic, intermittent, burns my eyes / can taste it and they can't reproduce at service. Chrysler knows exactly what is happening. Happened with 2012 models if you look at the posts. I, too, have had issues with my DEF system and Airbox. File an EPA complaint on the diesel fumes. It is a health hazard. This is not outside smells coming through fresh air. Chrysler knows everything that goes wrong with these trucks.

 

[EDankievitch]

Only time I get a hint of exhaust is when it goes into the active re-gen cycle. It will go active when I let it idle when cleaning the snow and ice off of it. You can tell when it lights off the DPF as it will smell like burning rubber and a heavy Diesel exhaust smell. It's only done this about 3 times this winter. With all the snow and short trips I've been doing I guess it needs to clean it self out. You'll smell it when standing still, stopped at a light or stop sign.

 

[sag2]

I have 2013 RAM 3500 mfg. April 2013 and I was suffocated with fumes in the cab. Same scenario as other 2013 owners, cold outside, heater on, fresh air on A/C, smell mostly at idle, stop or traffic, intermittent, burns my eyes / can taste it and they can't reproduce at service. Chrysler knows exactly what is happening. Happened with 2012 models if you look at the posts. I, too, have had issues with my DEF system and Airbox. File an EPA complaint on the diesel fumes. It is a health hazard. This is not outside smells coming through fresh air. Chrysler knows everything that goes wrong with these trucks.

This has been around since the first 6.7 engines. It is coming in from the fresh air system, and is worse when you come to a stop with system NOT in recirc. If you don't want it, just run on recirc as much as possible.

 

[bigblock_doc]

Yep, got the same thing also. Heater/defrost on, stop at the light and smell a diesel fuel with a hint old
style diesel exhaust. I thought that all those filters would make it smell more clean. Ha, Ha.

 

[BIZOTCH71]

Regeneration

It seems this has something to do with activating the exhaust brake when the motor and temperature is cold outside. Mine feels like that. Like it is exhaust gas locked and I can hear it rumbling on the passenger side before the smell. Sometimes I can't hardly throttle it into first gear. I've got a new issue. It's auto idling up at startup in park and never releasing the throttle. So, when I'm driving. .I'm manually throttling and there is this overlapping auto throttle pushing behind it. I let off the pedal and it keeps trucking. Im driving down the street at 10 mph and it's running 1100 rpm. Of course, I can smell fumes in the cab. I can taste fuel in my mouth. Dangerous. I'm glad Ram is not polluting the environment.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Sounds like your truck needs a regen...................really bad.

 

[Apsi]

I know this is an older thread, but I'm having the same issue. I have a 2016 2500, less than 7000 miles. I have had it in shop multiple times for this problem. If I have the defrost on, exhaust smell fills up cab. They have done two different things saying it was fixed. It was not. A few days ago it did it. I drove it right to the dealer. The shop foreman got in the car and smelled it. He said it was so bad it burned his eyes. I have now obtained a lawyer as dodge/chrysler corporate has basically told me to stick it.

 

[sag2]

Is it exhaust smell or does it smell like charcoal lighter fluid? Also do you smell it when you come to a stop, and only every few hundred miles? When the truck is in a regen and you come to a stop it will pick up the smell through the HVAC system unless it is on recirc mode.
If that is the symptom it is normal operation. Just push the recirc button and you will not smell it.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

Doing a coolant flush and fill, and replacement of the thermostat.. I had to remove the EGR pipe that goes from the exhaust side to the EGR valve on top of the intake. Since I was going to do a coolant flush with a modified thermostat, I left the EGR pipe off, and ran the engine to circulate coolant. The exhaust from the open EGR port flowed free and was picked up in the air intake and into the cab.. so saying that, I would expect even a small leak on the exhaust to circulate into the cab, this is PRE filter exhaust so has the soot and smell of old diesel. I noted on my truck the gaskets for the EGR are worn and I'd suspect leak a bit under normal circumstances.. I'd try a soap bubble leak check of the under-hood exhaust lines and connections to see what you find there.