Furnace Smell & Noise

[PineForestCamper]

Originally Posted by AquaMan

I have always run my furnaces for about 3 hours on the first run. Sometimes they clear up fast, sometimes they take the full 3 hours or more. As for the sound, it kinda sounds like maybe a bearing is bad, and or something may be caught in the squirrel cage. Could also explain the extended smell. Open the inside panel and take a look at the furnace. Investigate as far as your skills allow you. If you feel uncomfortable tearing into the problem, take it to your dealer. I personally, have no problem tearing the entire thing apart.

I ran it for a total of 10 hours yesterday. It is getting progressively better every hour. Still not there but better. I think you are right about the noise and the possible causes. Since its brand new I'm going to let the dealer take a look at that part. Thanks for the follow up.

[PineForestCamper]

Originally Posted by Mike ONeill

Pretty loud, not normal

You got that right. Thank you for the follow up. Going to have the dealer take a look since its brand new.

[PineForestCamper]

Originally Posted by Alpine207

I have a new Forest River camper and the furnace gives off a burnt oil smell every time I turn it on. I have run the furnace 10 times for 20 minutes per time. The smell will not go away. Very frustrating! Any ideas?

Wildly frustating right? Especially when I got spoiled with my new one for years ago when I ran for a few minutes and it cleared out. On this unit I ran mine for 10 hours yesterday which adds up to 13 hours total. Bizarre for sure. However, its getting better the more it gets used. I would turn yours on and let it go for an extended time. Is yours making noise? Mine has a motor noise that is revealing something bigger. Since its new I will have the dealer take a look at it.

[PineForestCamper]

Originally Posted by lakejumper

Mine was making a terrible burnt plastic smell and had an intermittent noise. The first time at the dealership they ran it and said it was fine. it did it again and I asked them to pull the heater and check to see if the fan was hitting the "squirrel" cage inside. They found the fan blade was loose and periodically rubbing against the cage. It is also a Suburban model. Be persistent and have them pull it. I hang out at the dealership when they do most of my warranty work. They're excellent about letting me see what they fixed.

Thank you for the encouragement. I think you are right. Going to have the dealer take a look since its new. Thank you for the reply.

[Mike ONeill]

Maybe stirafoam in furnace from the build, pretty toxic fumes

[pashooter]

It is oil you smell... an oil coating applied to the heat exchanger parts during the manufacturing process (like sidecar said). As others have said, you need to let the furnace run for a good long time with the camper windows open and one or more vent fans off to allow the oil to burn off and to dissipate the smell. It will go away... sometimes just takes a while.

[PineForestCamper]

Originally Posted by Mike ONeill

Maybe stirafoam in furnace from the build, pretty toxic fumes

Hey! I never thought of that. It was weird how toxic it was. Hazy of sorts too. I just got out and let it run because I was so affected.

[pdqparalegal1]

Fan noise sounds like a fan motor bushing, I seriously doubt if any of them have bearings,

[Rick_Geneseo]

My 33CK had a 2 hour burn in until the smoke alarm quit going off.

[Flybob]

Moderator Note: I merged a second new thread on this topic that was started by a member who was participating in this thread to avoid confusion on responses.

[nikita]

We never had a smell - but when the furnace first turned on, for about the first 5 seconds, it would scream like a banshee!! It woke me up one night and I almost fell out of bed! The problem was the fan needed re-adjusting, it was rubbing on the housing.

[KyDan]

If it was mine- I'd definitely pull the furnace and inspect it on the bench.
Also I'd run the fan motor on the bench.

Depending on your rig- pulling the furnace might be a 10 minute job or
an hour.... my previous rig had a failing control board and I wound up
pulling it 3 times trying to nurse the balky board back to life.
(I should have taken the advice I got here and just replaced the board
the 1st time I pulled it out!)
The hardest part of pulling mine was getting my hands into a very tight
spot to loosen the gas line. After that it was easy-peazy to yank it out.

Hopefully your dealer knows the drill and can do it quickly and painlessly!
Good luck!

[Al Davis]

I have a 2016 silverback which I have used for two hunting seasons. the furnance has a horrible smell. It is so bad it gives me a headache.. It is not a propane problem nor is there any motor noise. Took to a dealer (summer) and they could not locate problem. Has any one had the same problems.

[SidecarFlip]

Originally Posted by Al Davis

I have a 2016 silverback which I have used for two hunting seasons. the furnance has a horrible smell. It is so bad it gives me a headache.. It is not a propane problem nor is there any motor noise. Took to a dealer (summer) and they could not locate problem. Has any one had the same problems.

Sounds like roast vermin to me. Mice stink when cooked.

[Flybob]

Has the furnace worked in the past ( no smell)?
If yes then I would look for rodents especially if used as a hunting lodge based on location and usage. Remove the return grate ( usually wooden louvers ) and inspect the intake and fan box the best you can. If nothing, you will have to remove the heat ducts from the furnace output and hunt for nests. If you have more than one, you can blow a small fan into each one and check the vents connected to it for small. That may help you narrow down the duct that needs cleaning.
If no then you need to run it for a while 20 mins to an hour to burn off the oils left on it from manufacturing.

[Mike ONeill]

Maybe a loose piece of styrofoam insulation it would put off caustic fumes