Smell of Burning Rubber

[bmborum]

Happens very infrequently, can't put my finger on a catalyst to what causes it but at times I have a very strong burning rubber smell on my truck. I can only smell it when I am standing square and kind of low to the tail gate. It is NOT coming from the exhaust at all, and as soon as I turn the corner on either side of the truck I can't smell it. It smells exactly like a burnt tire, so I pulled it into the garage and checked the spare.....nothing! The rear tires are fine, not an abnormal temp, has proper psi.....

Frustrating. Any ideas? Expierences?

 

[Bob V]

Have you checked the exhaust hangers?

 

[bmborum]

Have you checked the exhaust hangers?

No not specifically; but after a semi extensive 5 minute look underneath nothing apparent revealed itself. It's weird though, only happens occasionally with varying intensity.

 

[EDankievitch]

My truck would give off the same odor when ever it would go into a Re- Gen Cycle. That Cat and piping gets hot and the heat gets transmitted to the rubber hangers was as near as I could tell. My 2012 did it and my 2013 use to do it.

 

[garrettg84]

Mine actually gave off the same smell today. It was very much like burning rubber or burning electronics. I am thinking it was a regeneration cycle as well. I noticed my instantaneous fuel mileage was absolute crap running down the highway unloaded with no wind too. I'm really hoping it was a regen cycle anyways....

 

[bmborum]

My truck would give off the same odor when ever it would go into a Re- Gen Cycle. That Cat and piping gets hot and the heat gets transmitted to the rubber hangers was as near as I could tell. My 2012 did it and my 2013 use to do it.

Right on...thanks for the feedback. This is a VERY strong odor, typically isolated to the very rear passenger side corner of my truck...but NOT exhaust related. I haven't noticed a dip in mileage for it to be a regen cycle....but.....if that's the case then I'm regenning fairly frequently then lol

 

[RVTRKN]

When you smell it next time, I'll assume your idling it, raise the RPM to say 1500 and then release the throttle, if the exhaust brake engages, it's in regen and is probably the source of the smell from the exhaust hangers.

 

[bmborum]

When you smell it next time, I'll assume your idling it, raise the RPM to say 1500 and then release the throttle, if the exhaust brake engages, it's in regen and is probably the source of the smell from the exhaust hangers.

Roger that I will try that out. Just curious, why in theory would the exhaust brake engage assuming its in idle and neutral if the truck is in re-gen mode? Just trying to put two and two together in my head. Would using the exhaust brake help, hurt, or make no difference in the amount of time and frequency of the re-gen cycles?

Thanks for the insight.

 

[RVTRKN]

I have found that my exhaust brake will engage when I come to an idle, signaling its in regen. But mine is a manual trans, so I must idle in neutral or the clutch disengaged. I have other signs it's in regen but I won't bore everyone with that crap. However it does engage even when I have my EB is off, when its in regen. Also my EGT will rise to 800*+ instead of dropping when idling. So it's a good sign your in regen, if you have a pyrometer, that should help to know its in regen.

 

[RikDavis]

I have had several instances where my exhaust brake was on while I was driving at relatively low speeds and I had NOT turned it on and the indicator was not lit. Just figured it was some kind of computer glitch but maybe it had something to do with regen. Mine is an auto transmission

 

[bmborum]

I have had several instances where my exhaust brake was on while I was driving at relatively low speeds and I had NOT turned it on and the indicator was not lit. Just figured it was some kind of computer glitch but maybe it had something to do with regen. Mine is an auto transmission

Interesting. Almost like the EB has to be on to go thru a regen cycle? If that was the case, why not drive around everywhere with the EB on? Could it hurt anything?

To fault of my own I have put no additional gauges on it but likely will in the near future. I didn't really want to do it or make any slight mods because the stealership in my area is ridiculous about that and I have about 50k left on the warranty...a little longer than I am willing to gamble.

 

[MattandLana]

An Edge Insight OBD2 code reader will tell you when you're in regen. The smell you describe is exactly what I get when my edge tells me I'm in regen. The Insight is just a code reader that plugs into the OBD2 port, and I'd be surprised if it affected your warranty. Can't say for sure because when I exported the truck I lost all warranty so I haven't bothered to look into it!