Berkshire cab heater odor.

[marialee]

2011 Berkshire 410QS. We needed to use the cab heater the other day but after it ran for a while noticed that there was an odor coming from the cab heat vents. To me it was a semi sweet smell. My husband thought it was nail polish remover. We checked for leaks in the front by generator. Did not find any signs of leaks. Ideas of what it could be? Thank you!!


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[KennyGolub]

Just a shot in the dark, but last year when I killed a bunch of hornets that got into our attic at home, there was a kind of sweet, but sickening odor from them. Is it possible you had a hornets nest built somewhere on the coach ?

[dan-nickie]

Maria, I don't know much about RV heaters, but on my cars that sweet smell was antifreeze. Typically from the heater core.

Not from a RV, but this is what a heater core looks like:

[R&J Silverback]

2 if it is sweet smell it can't be good. it could be bad news like a head gasket or heater core. need to have cooling system pressure tested.

[marialee]

Thanks. Hope it's not any of the above. Will let you know.


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Phil57]

The head gasket is 40' behind them so I don't think that is it. I think Dan is correct in the heater core. I read a couple of people on the forum having the same issue. Any wet spots in the ground? It doesn't take much of a leak for the smell to get out.

[TURBS]

If this is an in dash heater core, peel up the carpet a little bit.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Phil57]

No carpet in a 2011.

[marialee]

Does anyone know where the heater core is located in the 2011 Berkshire ?


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Campin Cajun]

marialee, it should be towards the front end of your coach. It will have two hoses hooked to it that run from the engine. You should be able to follow those two lines right to the core.

[NO3putt]

Think it's going to be under the dash. Can you take the square panel off on the top of dash and look down. There shoud be a fan assembly there along with heater coil.

[gasman94]

Can you smell it from outside the coach and is the antifreeze level full? I had an issue with mine when it was new. I could smell whiffs of antifreeze and the level decreased ever so slightly...at first. I also could not see any leaks around the coach. I was at Camp Freightliner and had them check it when I had some service done, but they said that nothing was wrong. The problem continued and my Oasis dealer in Kalamazoo figured out the issue. If not there, then I agree, it may be your heater core.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by Phil57

No carpet in a 2011.

Rubber mat?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Phil57]

Ceramic tile. Mine came with a mat but a hated it and got rid of it. It was like a rug. The tile goes all the way under the gas pedal to the bedroom.

[Phil57]

I believe the heater core is in this box. The A/C is in it also but this is where the two lines from the rear radiator come in and exit. You can see one line just above the light. I have never had this open so not sure how much is involved. It is at least easy access.

[TARVIDSON]

It may indeed be antifreeze but we had an odor coming out of the heater in our LE2150 after it had sat for a long time, replaced the cab filter and the odor went away.

[tmmar]

No cabin filter in the Berkshire to replace.

[marialee]

Thanks Everyone for the help. Its now 98 in Las Vegas, so not using the heater...HA! HA! Will let you know what the problem is as soon as we address it.

[gasman94]

Just make sure that the antifreeze level is adequate. You don't want to find out in the desert.


Rich

[marialee]

Ok gents, here is my solution to the sweet smell from the heater. Wait for a couple of days and it fixes itself. Who knew. At least I have some remedies if it happens again. Thanks again guys😍


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums