(solved)Changed valve cover gasket, now I get exhaust in cab with heat on at idle?

These two things arnt related at all, but its weird it happened right after. Any thoughts?

 

Is your exhaust manifold coverd in oil? If so change your cabin filter the burning oil smoke from the manifold has filled your filter

 

Nope it isnt. The smell is definitely fresh exhaust fumes. Only come in when heater is on and idling.

 

Did you replace the gasket, or have someone else do the repair?
Sure sounds like oil got on exhaust manifold or pipe.
Also, have you hit the recirc button to see if the smell is reduced?

 

Yeah me and a buddy did it. Not a whole lot of oil as I let it sit for a bit before I started. Ill have to try the re circulation button and see if it helps. I just don't see how a bit of oil would smell like fresh exhaust. Oil smells so much different ime

 

sounds like you have an exhaust leak at the head or at the collector

 

I would be more inclined to believe it is oil on the exhaust before I say he has an exhaust leak. He changed his valve cover gasket because it was leaking most likely. It is very easy to drop oil on the exhaust when changing that item out. Where as if he had an exhaust leak, he would had been smelling that for a while now.

Then again shit does happen at odd times when you are working so it is very possible that he has a new exhaust leak.

 

I'm gonna cover up the wires and use some degreaser to power wash the oil and debris off. Its definitely a exhaust smell. What are the chances that it just started after I change that gasket. Im hoping it is just burning oil that dripped off of the cover.

 

Dumb thoughts - but I'll add my thoughts anyway ..... If you have a PVC system - check hoses, connections vacuum tubes for pinch, disconnect. etc
Also, any chance of plugged the drain holes in the valve head ?? I'm thinking that oil builds up under cover and may be causing your original /new leak ??

Just trying to help here ..... Please post what you find.

 

Okay so Ive checked all hoses etc and everything is secure and not broke. The smell is not as strong now with the heat running at idle. Im going to clean the engine bay with degreaser this weekend to see if that helps

 

I took an entire can of degreaser and power washed my entire engine bay. Now its clean as a whistle, and the smell coming into the cab is more pronounced as fresh exhaust fumes. One other random symptom I noticed which I dont know is related or not is the defogger didnt seem to work as well as it did before I changed the valve cover gasket. Like the day after I did it the rain made it fog up bag and usually I could put it on low and it would clear things up, but now it took the high setting. This issue is really stressing me out, as the fumes are drying my eyes out really bad.

Any thoughts taco bros?

 

I don't suppose you forgot to reattach a vacuum line or the pc valve?

 

Attached all back and double/triple checked them. This suck so much

 

I've used a few de greasers over the years and found them to work well, but... They usually leave a greasy film that take a while to wear and especially burn off the hotter parts of the engine. I'd wait for a week and a number of engine cycles and then see.

 

Maybe the exhaust problem is coincidence and not related to your valve cover gasket repair.

The exhaust only has one route Head - Manifold - Cat/s - Catback - Muffler. Get under the truck while the motor/exhaust is cool and make sure all connections/hangers/bolts etc. are secure. Afterward I would start the truck and starting at the front working my way to the back, I would see if the smell of exhast was more pronounced. If you have an exhaust leak under the cab the fumes can build up fast in the cab as well.

 

not sure if this was mentioned. Did you pull your cab air filter and check for anything that may have crawled in , but did not leave?

 

As a side note to the OP...

Go Dawgs!!!

From a fellow member of the Bulldog Nation!

 

I had a similar issue with fumes in the cab that turned out to be the shift boot on top of the transmission was left off after the dealership mechanic changed my clutch. The rubber boot that sealed the shifter to the floorboard was properly installed, but the one on the actual transmission was loose. The symptoms were sulphur type smell when on the freeway with the AC on recirc, or with the window rolled down, AC or not. What was happening was the fumes were making their way past the floor boot and under the console, the AC pulls from the floor when on recirc. With the window rolled down and moving there is air drawn from the floor area up past my nose and out the window. AC on fresh air with window up the smell went away.

Not exactly what you are experiencing, but something to think about. I was wondering what the hell was going on for quite some time and I had forgotten about the clutch job before I ever noticed the smell.

 

Wow. I can't add anything to the discussion except to ask that you keep us posted. I'm really curious to see what you find.
One spit ball, is the seal at the back of the hood, in front of the cowl damaged or did it get pulled loose during your work? It's a long shot but it could be letting air in from under your hood.

One other thought, your air duct drain line could be pinched or pulled out of the way a little which might act like a hole to your cab. Again, all long shots but just a few thoughts.

 

Poof!