Low MPG and diesel smell in cab

[Badunit]

Mine recently (around 14K miles) started smelling of raw diesel. I can smell it in traffic, when I park, and when I open the hood right after I shut down. There don't seem to be any obvious leaks, at least none I've found yet. Since I haven't found a trace of a leak and the smell dissipates pretty quickly after I shut down, I'm thinking it is a high pressure leak that's atomizing the fuel. So far I've checked the connections to the injectors (I put toilet paper rolls around the connections and drove around) and didn't find anything. But there are number of other places left for me to check and I may recheck the injector connections just to be sure. Wish me luck.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

That's what Cummins basically said in an email to someone who had a query about diesel smell. They said due to the constant high pressure fine leaks will atomize fuel and be hard to locate. One thing you might do is put a light dusting of talcom powder or something all over the engine on the driver's side and close the hood and let it run a few minutes then shut it off and see if any of the powder is soiled or stuck to any of the components. Of course you know not to look for leaks with the engine running.



Good luck,



Vaughn

 

[XcumminsX]

the only time i can ever smell it is when it is running in my garage, thats the only time i smell it, im guessing its normal to smell it in a garage right?

 

[Badunit]

You can check for high pressure leaks with the engine running, just not by using your hands or other body parts. I'll get a piece of cardboard and move it around to see if it gets wet anywhere. I'll wear leather gloves and eye protection just to be on the safe side.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Badunit maybe you could tape a paint stick or something to the carboard so you can keep your hands a little further back too (still wearing the leather gloves which is a good idea).



XcumminsX yeah you'll definitely have more exhaust smell in the morning due to a cold engine. Really makes my garage smell nice

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Leather gloves won't help...

 

[RonWeiss]

OK, here is the cure for our stink...



http://dieselram.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=000576;p=1#000000



Makes sense, will pull apart the cowling this week to verify, if this works he deserves a medal.







Ron W.

 

[Badunit]

Don't you all worry, I know to keep my fingers away from it. My first try will be to wrap cardboard around each connection I can then drive around; then I won't have to be near it when it's running.

 

[Badunit]

Okay, finally located it. All connectors are tight, no leaks there. The leak is at the injection pump. There's a small amount of fuel on the very bottom of it at the lowest point and I guess either the fan is spreading the smell around or it's a high pressure leak and this is just a sign of it. I can't tell where it's coming from exactly, the pump is dry everywhere else that I can see (though I can't see the side next to the engine). It doesn't look like it's dripping on anything and everything else around appears pretty dry, even the rest of the pump (the small amount of other wet stuff doesn't smell like fuel so I assume it's oil).



Being new to diesels and all, what do you all recommend? Leave it alone since it is such a minor leak or try to get the dealer to fix it without screwing something else up?

 

[Prairie Dog]

IMO, get your dealer to fix it. There's usually no argument from them on stuff like this.



Scotty