New Owner Question- smell

[PCiancimino]

Last weekend I went out and bought a new 2006 Ram 2500 Mega Cab with a Cummins Turbo Diesel, mainly to tow my track car. I have read all of the posts on how to break in the engine and have dutifully put 400 hundred miles on the truck. I notice that certain time I get a strong raw diesel odor, (like when you went down the basement when you were a kid). It usually happens (not every time) when I come to a stop sign or when I get the mail at the bottom of the driveway. It always goes away when I shut off the motor. There are no spots on the driveway. Could you give me your thoughts on this?



Thanks

 

[broeser340]

I am unsure about a "raw" smell. I have noticed that depending on how the wind is blowing (rear of truck toward front) while idling the exhaust smell is present. Or right after changing oil the smell of the additives for the first few hundred miles. It can probably be reduced by using the recirculate mode on the HVAC. I think this is true of a gas or diesel vehicle.

 

[Matt42]

Could be the engine oil. Certain brands smell more icky than others, but the smell goes away (to my nose at least) after about 1K miles. Of the brands I have tried, Delo was least smelly.

 

[Pawpaw]

I agree with the burnt oil smell. Rotella is supposed to be the worst, but the Mopar stuff is pretty bad too. If you ask the dealer about it, they can add something to the oil which is supposed to make it smell better.



I use Delo and don't notice much, if any, smell.



Bob

 

[mberry]

I disagree that it's the "new engine oil" scent. I do get a raw fuel smell around my truck fairly regularly. I have never been able to find any raw fuel anywhere or any leaking anywhere either. I have checked my oil for fuel dilution and have seen none. I cannot figure out where it is coming from.

 

[tp0d]

Same thing happened with my 05 when I got it. Its the oil. Dodge puts a special oil in for the break-in process, and it helps for engine storage as they sit on the lot. I`d run it until about 1000mi then change it out for some nice rotella. Benn runnin rotella since I got my 05, have 53k now. . Its all I run in my 96 also, with 175k.



The oil smell is from the breather tube, it will be pretty strong when you first change the oil, but after it heat cycles a few times, it will go away. Nothing to be worried about. Easily confused with diesel, though close, they are different smells to the trained nose



good luck



-j

 

[Regcabguy]

Odor

I always had a fairly strong odor on my '99 although it never used a drop of oil. This '07 is hardly noticable. I had a box and Mach 1. 6's on my '99 and the overfueling may have contributed to it.

 

[CSkal]

If you ask the dealer about it, they can add something to the oil which is supposed to make it smell better.

I think that's only if you want that lemony fresh scent...

 

[mberry]

Same thing happened with my 05 when I got it. Its the oil. Dodge puts a special oil in for the break-in process, and it helps for engine storage as they sit on the lot. I`d run it until about 1000mi then change it out for some nice rotella. Benn runnin rotella since I got my 05, have 53k now. . Its all I run in my 96 also, with 175k.



The oil smell is from the breather tube, it will be pretty strong when you first change the oil, but after it heat cycles a few times, it will go away. Nothing to be worried about. Easily confused with diesel, though close, they are different smells to the trained nose



good luck



-j

Sorry, but it's not the oil/oil breather on my truck. I've been around diesels my entire life and I'm sure my nose is trained to the difference. I know the smell of diesel vs oil vs JP5. Also, they do not use a special break in oil. It's the same factory fill Valvoline they sell at Cummins stores.



The diesel smell is definitely stronger in the winter also, so if it is a leak its very small.

 

[bighammer]

Top of the fuel tank? Like a vent that isn't capped?

It's happened before... . (I thought they had taken care of all those)

 

[DrDiesel]

Sorry, but it's not the oil/oil breather on my truck. I've been around diesels my entire life and I'm sure my nose is trained to the difference. I know the smell of diesel vs oil vs JP5. Also, they do not use a special break in oil. It's the same factory fill Valvoline they sell at Cummins stores.



The diesel smell is definitely stronger in the winter also, so if it is a leak its very small.

Don`t you just love it when someone gives out info that is absolutely obscured of true fact and based on some wild idea on has obtained by an unknown source. Then try to pass on this erroneous info as fact.

IE- Dodge uses break-in oil... ... #@$%! Yeah. . Right...

 

[mberry]

bighammer,



The smell I get is strongest from the front of the truck especially right after shutdown. It very well could be the tank vents so I'll check it when I can.



DrDiesel,



Yes I do. It's like there has been no progress or improvement in tolerances and engine building for 30 years to some people. I do not blame them for that since there is a huge amount of incorrect information out there. It's like some people in the IT indusrty I have worked with who say: "If you can't dazzle them with facts, baffle them with bs. "



That's why I value the TDR so much. I have noticed that there is more correct information here than not, so most people can get their facts straight and learn here.

 

[HOBrian]

I get the "new diesel" smell every time I change my oil. I have gotten that smell every time I have changed the oil and I have 81k on the truck. Put some miles on the truck and you will see the smell goes away.