Strange smell on hard/ high acceleration

[SOG2020]

Has anyone else experienced a strange smell on hard acceleration (passing / getting on a highway)? This is not a typical catalytic converter (hard boiled/rotten eggs), but a burn type. Wife says it smells like electrical wire burn. I think it's just a warm metal smell. Regardless strong enough to be irritating and only happens on hard acceleration (~high 5/6k RPMs). This has an automatic.

If so, do you know what's causing it?

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[GtX]

Petroleum decomposition products from incomplete burn?

 

[Jim1964]

Is it a toad? It’s a common phenomenon with towed vehicles because they accumulate road grime on the exhaust in transit.

 

[Tethmes]

The sticker on my muffler wasn't removed from mine when I got it. If that's the case with yours, you could be smelling the sticker burning.

Edit: Nevermind, just saw yours is a '20.

 

[SOG2020]

Is it a toad? It’s a common phenomenon with towed vehicles because they accumulate road grime on the exhaust in transit.

Bought new only 3 miles on it on delivery. Never towed. Have done no towing.

 

[SOG2020]

Petroleum decomposition products from incomplete burn?

Thanks.

That was my original thought knowing that most metal items have some type of preservative on it to prevent rust while on the self/ warehouse. I figured though after two years (28k miles) it'd be burnt off. ??

 

[Bzinsky]

Probably wire or conduit close to the exhaust somewhere. If it’s only during hard acceleration its probably closer to the engine since the downstream exhaust usually doesn’t fluctuate temp that quickly.

Make a hard run at night time, like really hard, pull over, turn lights out, pop hood, look for signs of smoke with flashlight.

or just visually follow exhaust path from exhaust manifold(s) and look for toasted wires

probably wouldn’t just let it be if your jeep is a couple years old

 

[SOG2020]

Probably wire or conduit close to the exhaust somewhere. If it’s only during hard acceleration its probably closer to the engine since the downstream exhaust usually doesn’t fluctuate temp that quickly.

Make a hard run at night time, like really hard, pull over, turn lights out, pop hood, look for signs of smoke with flashlight.

or just visually follow exhaust path from exhaust manifold(s) and look for toasted wires

probably wouldn’t just let it be if your jeep is a couple years old

Thanks. Definitely sounds like a vehicle saver; I've seen where some jeeps have burned up. I've had the dealer check for it three times now, but they always say that they "can't reproduce it". My thought is of course you can't if you haven't tried.

 

[aldo98229]

Does your Jeep have the Selec-Trac?

When I first got my Jeep, I hit the trails and left the Selec-Trac in Auto mode. After a few minutes it stunk of burnt clutch! Selec-Trac can overheat if left in Auto mode on rough terrain.

Since then, I shift into Part-Time mode as soon as I hit the trailhead. Haven’t had any more issues.

 

[vetygud]

On rapid acceleration the crank case oil vapors are pressurized and will blow through the PCV system back through the intake and back into combustion. GM LS3 engines were notorious for creating this smell, which was almost like a metallic chemical smell. I had to put an oil catch can on my corvette because the GM techs said a certain amount of oil blow back through the PCV system was normal. I collected a lot of oil. Traded the vette for my Willys and problem solved, lol!

 

[Mudduck]

I have 10K on my 21 JLUR, and on hard acceleration, I still get this smell. I've chalked it up to the catalyst doing its thing. It smells a little plastic-y. I've been under it many times, and no signs of any burning or anything unusual.

 

[TheBirdie72]

Wife says it smells like electrical wire burn. I think it's just a warm metal smell.

Does it only occur when she is in the vehicle? Just asking… ?

 

[SOG2020]

Does it only occur when she is in the vehicle? Just asking… ?

? ???? No. ?

 

[SOG2020]

Does your Jeep have the Selec-Trac?

When I first got my Jeep, I hit the trails and left the Selec-Trac in Auto mode. After a few minutes it stunk of burnt clutch! Selec-Trac can overheat if left in Auto mode on rough terrain.

Since then, I shift into Part-Time mode as soon as I hit the trailhead. Haven’t had any more issues.

I'll have to check, but as far as I know, no. I know I haven't really had it off-road yet. The few times I have its been nothing intense; I've only had to engage 4WD twice (beach sand).

 

[SOG2020]

On rapid acceleration the crank case oil vapors are pressurized and will blow through the PCV system back through the intake and back into combustion. GM LS3 engines were notorious for creating this smell, which was almost like a metallic chemical smell. I had to put an oil catch can on my corvette because the GM techs said a certain amount of oil blow back through the PCV system was normal. I collected a lot of oil. Traded the vette for my Willys and problem solved, lol!

That aligns with another thought I had, aside from the "preservative" on the exhaust system components. Thanks.

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