X738 smells on startup

[Been There Twice]

I suspect you have some coolant leak in a cylinder head. Due to the low hours, there isn't a large amount now, but, as more hours go on the tractor it will increase. The leak probably is more after a shutdown, there allowing the coolant to form in the cylinder. Best to do a compression cylinder test and see how much one cylinder is low.

 

[tomplum]

In my experience coolant will be a sweeter smell, but then again could vary to the type of coolant. Realizing that you are in your warranty period, you could try an easy test. Take a very small amount of coolant from the radiator, warm the engine and pour 1/4 ounce of it on the hot exhaust pipe. Similar smell? If you are maintaining your coolant level and there is no sign of coolant migrating to the oil and visa versa I doubt that a compression test will tell you anything. You'd be hard pressed to see a change on the spark plug deposits too if that is the case. Has your dealer taken an opportunity to check this out?

 

[Been There Twice]

The owner claims he failed to mention the odor went away after the engine warms up in his original posting. It doesn't take just couple minutes for these engine to warm up, so, if there is coolant in the combustion chamber so much as a tablespoon amount it probably will that time to fully burn the coolant off and out the exhaust. If it was the fuel that is the cause he would continue to have a foul odor all the time.

Besides, a tablespoon of coolant in a head would take many engine starts for the level to show up as being low.

 

[radios1]

In my experience coolant will be a sweeter smell, but then again could vary to the type of coolant. Realizing that you are in your warranty period, you could try an easy test. Take a very small amount of coolant from the radiator, warm the engine and pour 1/4 ounce of it on the hot exhaust pipe. Similar smell? If you are maintaining your coolant level and there is no sign of coolant migrating to the oil and visa versa I doubt that a compression test will tell you anything. You'd be hard pressed to see a change on the spark plug deposits too if that is the case. Has your dealer taken an opportunity to check this out?

I never tried it, but I'd think coolant would make the engine smoke!. if someone wants to remove a spark plug, and pour a little into their combustion chamber, let us know the results..

 

[tomplum]

Really it may just be perception. 40 hours. Since new. One would assume that external surfaces have been checked for foreign matter. It has had a lot of starts and restarts over 40 hours. Should it be coolant, the level on the overflow tank would be decreasing, no mater how insignificant. Best to watch it closely and consistently. Maybe some initial smells from paint and plating conditioning, but that should be done by now. You could grasp at few other straws. Heck, maybe it is the fuel from the Y-Go-By fuel station. A shot of that cologne you never liked that you got for Christmas 5 years ago in each fuel fill?:laughing:

 

[Been There Twice]

The owner of this 2017 X738 hasn't said he bought the tractor new from the dealer. If he bought it new, he should have called the dealer regarding the smell at startup. With the number of hours on the meter he has run many gallons of gas through the system. Should he have bought gas that had some sort substance, by now he would have used up the fuel.
Therefore, until we know this, we have no idea if and when the odor at startup started new or later. Also, we have learned the odor is only at startup and that would indicate it comes from the exhaust...and is a internal source.

 

[Z71]

I have an 2018 JD X738 snow thrower with about 30 hrs on it and 1 yr old. No smell ever.

 

[Toyboy]

Runs like a deer but smells like a john......hmmmm

 

[Been There Twice]

The owner said it would seem like a weired question regarding the horrible smell. I would say he was correct.