Somethings burning.

[swampvol]

A couple of weeks ago I switched over to Rotella T, and flushed the radiator. Ever since I've notice a burning smell which seems to be coming from the exhaust. My first thought was I spilled antifreeze on the block, but I don't see any and it doesn't really smell like antifreeze burning.

Today I changed the hydro fluid and filters. Still smell something burning.

My sense of smell is not too good, so I can't tell if it's a rubber smell or not. My guess is not.

Any ideas?

l3400 hydro.

 

[Transit]

Do you see smoke? What were you using before the switch? does it smell when just Idling or when working under load?

 

[swampvol]

No smoke except at start up.

Kubota 15w-40 to Rotella 15w-40.

Only under load.

 

[PoorMansCat]

This could very well be the phenomenon of "ROSMELLA"!. Rotella diesel engine oil has always been known to produce an odor for awhile after oil change.. Hence the name ROSMELLA!.
A quick search on some of the more popular diesel forums can elaborate on this. If this is what it is, it won't hurt anything... You could always change the oil to Mobil Delvac and see if it goes away!.

 

[wmonroe]

This could very well be the phenomenon of "ROSMELLA"!. Rotella diesel engine oil has always been known to produce an odor for awhile after oil change.. Hence the name ROSMELLA!.
A quick search on some of the more popular diesel forums can elaborate on this. If this is what it is, it won't hurt anything... You could always change the oil to Mobil Delvac and see if it goes away!.

I agree that the smell is probably coming from the oil. I used to use Rotella in my truck and the smell was very apparent, it would go away after a while.

 

[swampvol]

Hope you guys are right.

I've only put an hour or two on it since, but that will change next weekend.

Thanks.

 

[picker77]

I used to attend a lot of dirt track motorcycle races back in the 60's (not jumping dirt piles and such crap, this was all-out flat track racing on slick clay that was wetted down between heats). Castor oil was the standard racing oil for bikes back then. I presume this stuff later came to be called Castrol, but with the great smell taken out. The unique and not unpleasant smell of burned castor oil has stuck in my memory ever since. Not the same odor as Rotella, I suppose, but if it was I'd switch to Rotella T in a heartbeat, I miss that smell!

 

[bikerdib]

I used to attend a lot of dirt track motorcycle races back in the 60's (not jumping dirt piles and such crap, this was all-out flat track racing on slick clay that was wetted down between heats). Castor oil was the standard racing oil for bikes back then. I presume this stuff later came to be called Castrol, but with the great smell taken out. The unique and not unpleasant smell of burned castor oil has stuck in my memory ever since. Not the same odor as Rotella, I suppose, but if it was I'd switch to Rotella T in a heartbeat, I miss that smell!

Funny how a smell can invoke strong memories. My first experience around motorcycles was at my cousin's. He used Castor oil in his '60s Triumph and Ducati. When I think back on those times, I can still remember the smell in my imagination. As you can see from my handle, I've been into bikes ever since.

 

[montelatici]

Funny how a smell can invoke strong memories. My first experience around motorcycles was at my cousin's. He used Castor oil in his '60s Triumph and Ducati. When I think back on those times, I can still remember the smell in my imagination. As you can see from my handle, I've been into bikes ever since.

Ahh, the smell of Castorene. Reminds me of my motorcycle road racing days.