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Any idea why my new Eco smells like I'm following a bus?

29331 Views 60 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  EricSorensen
1800 mi and it just started. Every now and then we get a huge influx of diesel odor coming into the cab. It does it with or without the A/C. I'm going to take it out tonight for work so I'll be on the Fwy for awhile so I'll see if it's happening then as right now it's stop and go city driving. No alarms or errors coming up. We can also smell it with the windows down so it's coming from the motor of my truck as it's happened about 10 different times in different areas. :crying:
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I'd get that to the dealer right away fumes in the cab is really bad. I get the diesels smell once and awhile and get scared there is something wrong, but look around and there is always a diesel vehicle around me.
No diesels around and fumes in the cab are alarming! When I start the engine the fumes in the cab are the only place you can smell diesel fumes. This is the only complaint I have but it's very noticeable. Will approach the dealer tomorrow.
Exhaust leak at the elbow right after the Turbo. It has been brought up on other forums.

Edit: TAKE IT TO THE DEALER NOW
I found the same info, cut and pasted the info with pictures for the service man waiting for me tomorrow. I bet I make his day!!! LOL
Dropped the Eco off at the Dealer and talked to the diesel mech and he's seen the info on the Bulletin Bds and will take a look. I hope for an update today.
The internet can be a wonderful thing. Via a Google search on EcoDiesel Exhaust smell I was able to point the mechanic in the right direction and not have to go back and forth or have him say he can't smell anything only to have to come back again and again. The issue is with an expansion pipe from the Turbo down to the exhaust and it developes a heat crack and allows raw unfiltered diesel emissions out.

Information from a Tech about your exhaust problems

Unfortunately the parts are back ordered with no eta so I'll have to keep pressure on them till they come in.
Dealer service was awesome and they communicated very well.
Knock on wood this is the only issue I'll have and yes I am still happy with my Eco.
I fear google mechanics, all theory, no practical.
I might be demanding a loaner while you wait. You could get sick from this, seems to be a safey issue. I know dealer won't think so, but government might.
Am having same problem, truck in shop now and informed it is a back gasket in turbo line.
1 day to find problem, 5 days to get part, and 3 day of tomorrow it will be ready. Am ready to talk to RAM HQ on the constant nagging problems that seem to take for ever to get a part or are continuously reoccurring.
whats the backlog on parts like? Also wonder if its a bad batch of parts or something all should be monitoring?
I've heard times of 1-4 weeks. I have my truck at home where it is safe and won't be driving it much till the part gets in. If the A/C is on recirc it should be OK and then there is always "Polish A/C" (Sorry to any Pols in the crowd LOL). I have other vehicles at my disposal. I will just be a squeaky wheel for the dealership and so far they have been great especially since it's out of their hands. All I can expect from them is communication and to do the work when the parts come in.
In retrospect this is still NOT an issue with the motor as it's from the Turbo and on. That's a RAM issue. The Jeeps use a different part and are NOT having this crack develop. Since I was a bit leery about buying an American car I did get the Extended Super warranty which may get used in the future.
If this is a design/manufacturing issue more will pop up. As I used to race cars there are some parts that need to flex a bit and the exhaust is one of them. As the heat from a Turbo is pretty intense it's important that the exhaust has some give as the car/truck/motor do not always twist in the same direction. My guess is the pipe is getting hot and there is not enough play in the system. (My 2 cents)
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This really seems to be an issue among the EcoDiesels. Iv also read this problem from other forums.. I wonder what the threshold is for a recall. If they had to redesign a part to fix this (cant remember if i read that here or there) then i would think they need to fix all of the bad parts out there
I just started another thread on this topic in the "Troubleshooting" section. Sorry, I hadn't seen this one before starting my thread. My problem is a crack in the expansion bellows just downstream of the turbocharger. The part is ordered but will be a while before it arrives. Dealer would not let us take it home with the leak as directed by Chrysler. They put us in a rental while waiting. I was pleasantly surprised the following day when they called telling me I could come by and pick up my truck. They pulled the part and had a muffler shop tig weld the crack. It seems to be holding up OK but I expect it to break again near the weld heat zone. I was very thankful to be out of my truck only 1 day. Shop foreman told me it takes 4 hours to get the part out because of the need to move a lot of other stuff out of the way for access.
I just started another thread on this topic in the "Troubleshooting" section. Sorry, I hadn't seen this one before starting my thread. My problem is a crack in the expansion bellows just downstream of the turbocharger. The part is ordered but will be a while before it arrives. Dealer would not let us take it home with the leak as directed by Chrysler. They put us in a rental while waiting. I was pleasantly surprised the following day when they called telling me I could come by and pick up my truck. They pulled the part and had a muffler shop tig weld the crack. It seems to be holding up OK but I expect it to break again near the weld heat zone. I was very thankful to be out of my truck only 1 day. Shop foreman told me it takes 4 hours to get the part out because of the need to move a lot of other stuff out of the way for access.
Its nice they patched it till the new part comes in!!
Just outta curiosity, is the location of this Crack usually visible by sliding under the truck and checking?
Yes if you look at the link you can see where. You won't ba able to see a crack but you will see soot around/in the mesh where the pipes join together. Visible soot means exhaust is escaping.
Cool thanks! I'll slide under and just do a once over.
I stand corrected. .....after looking at the pix I guess I won't slide under to examine. Didn't realize the turbo was packed high and tight. Thanks again!
Yes it's up there but it's easy enough to see without too much hassle.
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