Unknown smell/fume coming from vents ( 2020 freightliner Cascadia)

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by RobertRivalTransport, Jun 8, 2021.

  1. RobertRivalTransport

    RobertRivalTransport Bobtail Member

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    Jan 25, 2021
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    Hello fellow truckers.


    I have about 150,000 miles on my truck andI’m not sure if this is normal but I will have the AC on cool blast ( blue light ) at night when I go to sleep and when I wake up it will be off, in other words the fan will still be blowing but it will be outside air almost.

    Any idea what this is? My main question is however, I will be driving and I will smell this very strong unpleasant odor coming from the vents. It almost smells like puppy dog breath but 100 times stronger and 100 times worse. It’s so bad this morning that I had to let both of the windows down to air my truck out what exactly and my breathing does anybody know? I am assuming that it is the smell the truck lets off during a regen.
    Thank you in advance to any answers.
     
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  3. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Smell like rotten eggs or sulfur??? If so it's your batteries going bad and venting toxic gasses.
     
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Something died in the air vent?
     
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  5. Lazer

    Lazer Road Train Member

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    What Cattleman said.
    If it smells like boiling kitchen sink dishwater, you are following a truck that is ‘regening’ while going down the road.
     
  6. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    Make sure you see water dripping out of the a/c vent line with the a/c on, if not you can clean it out with a air line blowing into the drain line- a little bit and water should start running out, if when you wake up with a/c blowing warm air out of the vents turn off the motor and watch the drain line for 10 min. and if you start to see water start pouring out the a/c is freezing up and you need parts replaced to make the a/c comp. shut off before it starts to freeze up and then turn on again?
     
  7. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

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    I have the same issue with my 2020 Cascadia, but to a lesser degree. Whenever I engage the a/c, whether the blue or green light comes on, there is a stifling odor that emerges. So, I always have the windows down first to combat this.

    It's always like that for any vehice I drive, but the 2020 Cascadia has been the worst.
     
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  8. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

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    if you leave it on re-circulation all the time ,you can have mold growing in the vents.

    I would hardly ever have the recirc button pushed.

    I like fresh air.
     
  9. Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

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    This smell occurred when the tractor only had 600 miles on it.
     
  10. mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

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    Check/ change the cabin air filter.
    Have the shop open up the condenser and clean it out and check the drain holes. Also check the coolant pressure.
     
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  11. truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    check to see if its draining the water under the sleeper. the drain can get clogged up. u see this a lot with apu's. left bed and find the hvac box. stick coat hanger threw drain and wiggle it. the pooling water around the evap and dust cause that wet dog smell. also check the filter under there or in the cabet
     
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