Community Forums

Devoir · 01-03-2023, 09:56 PM

On this trip we've been climbing up and down the Appalachian mountain we started to notice a very strong smell "burnt rubber" anytime we climbed up a long steep hill. The first time this occurred we quickly pulled into a truck turn out to investigate. Within in 2-3 minutes of pulling over this smell vanished outside the coach it seemed strongest near the exhaust pipe when we first stopped. No visible smoke and no visual damage to any exhaust system component.

using the Bluefire ODM Dashboard I started watching the DPF Intake temperature. Climbing hills obviously increases engine load. I tended to reduce speed keeping the RPM between 1500-2000 RPM depending on 4th or 5th gear. when the DPF intake went above 850'F we would begin to get this smell. Note: no faults or warnings on the dash or logged by Bluefire.

Then next day we drove for 7 hours across the flat road with minor hills, no smell or odor detected.

I'm trying to understand is this is part of how the exhaust burns off the exhaust or is this related to the DEF.

If you have any thoughts on what is causing this and how it is getting into the coach while driving 35-50 mps on the highway I would certainly appreciate it.

Arch Hoagland · 01-03-2023, 10:07 PM

Was it doing a regen?

Newmar2856 · 01-03-2023, 10:09 PM

Basing my theory from my truck days, but my guess is your DPF was in regen mode. When your DPF filter fills up, the system generates significant heat to burn out the soot. You could be smelling that burn off. By chance, does your BlueFire device have the ability to monitor soot level in your DPF or the ability to show when you are in regen mode?

Devoir · 01-03-2023, 10:11 PM

Newmar & Arch,

I'm not sure how or what to look for in the Bluefire dashboard that shows Regen is happening.

I'll search for the soot level or something that shows Regen Active

Devoir · 01-03-2023, 10:22 PM

Okay there is a page that shows just Data. I can see a DPF Soot Percent %.

In this photo the engine is off we are parked for the evening.

How do I evaluate the Soot% or ASH%

Newmar2856 · 01-03-2023, 10:24 PM

A quick search on the BlueFire site shows there is a Regen State point that it monitors. It appears there is a text gauge that will show a green icon when it’s actively in regen mode. There appear to be different software versions, so the icon could be a different color or it may actually say Active on Inactive.

Looks like a pretty cool tool.