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Old 05-12-2018, 05:16 PM   #1
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Burnt smell from rear end

Hey all

On our last trip I have noticed a burnt rubber smell that comes and goes. It wasn't often so I thought it was someone else. But it followed us.

It seems only to happen when we tow. Never noticed it while not towing.

The smell doesn't smell like brakes. It's more of a burnt rubber smell.

I took the trailer out today and the smell came back briefly. I think it is coming from my rear end (nothing abnormal with the camper, all smells and temperature are good). I used a temp gun to get the wheels/brake temp and both rear wheels are the same. The differential is at 146F, ambient temperature out today was 90F.

Truck drive and stops fine. Nothing abnormal there either.

The truck is a 2016 Silverado 2500HD. Has 25k miles. Recently got an oil change but no other service.

The differential has some wet looking spots. (Picture attached).

We're leaving Friday for a 1000 miles trip so I'm a little worried about it.

Any ideas?

Thanks all !
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Old 05-12-2018, 05:48 PM   #2
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Two ideas:
Check the temperature of the pinion bearing in the front of the differential. It gets hot and can even start to glow when the differential fluid is low. It doesn't seem to leak around the diff housing though.
Check the differential breather and the wheel end of the axle if there is any indication of gear oil. Overfilling or a plugged diff breather can have it come out there.
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Old 05-12-2018, 07:15 PM   #3
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Have you ever dropped the spare tire? If it went back up slightly out of position, could it be very close to the exhaust pipe?
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Old 05-12-2018, 08:40 PM   #4
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Thanks for the replies.

Nah, never dropped the spare. I can check pressure and fill it up without dropping so never had a need to do so.

I'll take the trailer out again tomorrow and check the temps of the differential pinion.

It's the darnest thing tho. The truck doesn't have that much miles on it. We did take it on long trips before (Georgia to Canada) pulling the camper without any smells/issues. Brought it to the dealer for oil change (it's free so might as well) and now the thing smells.

Thanks again.
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Old 05-12-2018, 08:53 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Evil4U View Post
Have you ever dropped the spare tire? If it went back up slightly out of position, could it be very close to the exhaust pipe?


+1. Several years ago a shop retracted my spare too close to the tail pipe and the heat charred the tread of the tire....
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:00 PM   #6
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Any chance the smell is spilled oil from the last service?
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:03 PM   #7
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thanks. I just went and checked it out and it looks good, no sign of melting on the tire. I'll check the temp on that too tomorrow when I take it out for a ride again. There is a separation between the exhaust pipe and the tire and that looks good as well.
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:04 PM   #8
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Any chance the smell is spilled oil from the last service?
The smell is definitely coming from the rear. The front/engine block doesn't smell burnt at all.
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Old 05-12-2018, 09:06 PM   #9
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Burnt smell from rear end

I assume you have checked the fluid level?

Another thing(besides the spare) are the rubber insulators that mount the exhaust....especially if it has been modified.

Diesel? Exhaust temps up when towing?
Maybe a fluid leaking on the exhaust that only shows when working the truck.

Parking brake dragging a bit?

All pretty cheap checks.
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:37 PM   #10
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hey

The truck is stock, no exhaust modification. It's a gasoline but now that you mention it, the smell is extremely similar to the same smell our car makes when it is running regen.

I checked the differential fluid level and it's fine.

It could some thing road oil or something stuck on the muffler.. or something stupid like that.

I have a "honey-do" list today so I may not have a chance to go on another drive until later.


Thanks again all!
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:53 PM   #11
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Years ago I had a problem with the diff overheating . Cooked the paint off the cover. Backlash was set too tight. Even though trucks are expected to tow, the tolerance range that is acceptable from the factory means some trucks can have problems. Mine didn't have a problem right away, it was like the 4th day of our 3rd towing trip. Dealer rebuilt the diff and I added a larger aluminum cover. Never had another problem. Might be your issue as well.
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Old 05-13-2018, 12:56 PM   #12
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One more thing to check is the wiring, incl. the wire harness going to the trailer brakes, it could possibly overheat due to a problem related to the trailer or be touching something that gets really hot only when you're towing, maybe, possibly, hopefully not causing an electrical fire eventually.
Also, hot wheel bearings can transfer the heat through the rim and onto the tires. I've seen more than one tire to burn up because of a bad bearing.
Just guessing.

Regardless, at $20 an infrared heat gun is your friend.
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:32 PM   #13
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You stated that it was a "burnt rubber" type smell. Could it possibly be a "rotten egg" type smell? Some catalytic converters give off a rotten egg smell when they are going bad.
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:34 PM   #14
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I wouldnt think this would happen with a 2500....but here is a thought to consider....When I was towing with a 1500 I was getting a nasty gear oil smell from the rear differential. I believe I was darn near boiling the rear diff fluid....the fumes were coming out the diff vent. I noticed excess moisture around the vent nipple located at the end of the hose tied to the frame. I have since upgraded to a 2500...lol. If this is the case you might want to consider a performance finned differential cover which may assist in keeping the temperature down.
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:34 PM   #15
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Quote:
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You stated that it was a "burnt rubber" type smell. Could it possibly be a "rotten egg" type smell? Some catalytic converters give off a rotten egg smell when they are going bad.
Definitely not rotten eggs.
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Old 05-13-2018, 01:35 PM   #16
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Front of differential.
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Old 05-13-2018, 02:41 PM   #17
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Sounds like your e-brake is dragging. Will give that kind of smell. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are releasing it, but you may have a problem with the cables or the adjustment that is causing it to drag. The other possibility is that you have a seized rear brake caliper which is causing your brakes to get hot, causing your smell. When the caliper seizes the other side that is still working is the one that will get hot because it is doing all the braking. Would be aggravated when you tow.
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Old 05-13-2018, 03:02 PM   #18
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Is the pinion seal leaking and slinging oil on the exhaust pipe?
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Old 05-13-2018, 06:58 PM   #19
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Quote:
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Front of differential.
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Old 05-13-2018, 06:59 PM   #20
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Quote:
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Is the pinion seal leaking and slinging oil on the exhaust pipe?
If it is then no sign of it. The exhaust and surrounding do not show any type of residue.
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