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Strange Smell From Engine Bay--2009 AWD SEL


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Hi Guys,

 

     Our winter beater, '09 V6 SEL AWD has an intermittent smell at idle coming into the cabin.  I know smells are subjective but I would describe it as a petroleum/natural gas type odor.  I've smelt cats before and it is not like that egg small really.  It doesn't really matter whether you drive it for 10 min. or a couple of hours, it will come and go at idle--not every time but every so often.  Once rolling you don't smell it and you might not for the rest of the drive.  It goes away once you get up to city speed.  Last night, I got it home and opened the hood (engine off).  Sniffed around and it seems to be in the area behind the battery.  It quickly dissipated though.  First thought is a leaky valve cover gasket and oil dripping on to the exhaust but I see no smoke at all.  Any thoughts?? 

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Any fluid dripping on the ground? My AWD Fusion is the same way because of gear lube cooking in the PTU. Mine is leaving a ton of gloopy dark black fluid. I am slowly trying to get it cleared up (but sucking out, then replacing it with new gear lube).

 

If you have the belly pan in place it might be masking what is leaking.

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PTU is the "transfer case" that directs power to the rear in your AWD vehicle.

 

This vent at the top is where mine is coming out (I can't really describe rear axle lube smell, it isn't pleasant and it is oil smelling for sure), this is a clean one, the cap the finger is pointing to:

48848383168_4508f924e2_h.jpg

 

This is what mine looks like:

48848874102_b1cff5013c_h.jpg

48848679491_62d8e027ac_h.jpg

 

It is difficult to track it down and see it from the top, but it is possible, it on the drivers side, and you can see it behind the engine, that is the brake master cylinder to the right, the battery is under the camera:

49382167163_870de3fca1_h.jpg

 

 

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Hi Guys,

 

     After some research and the lead that Bangster has given me, I feel that it is PTU related.  I don't have a belly pan so any fluid would drip to the ground which it has not, as of yet.  I did locate the vent cap and it is caked with black crud.  I was hoping to see it a bit wetter to really tell that is where the oil is coming from.  At this point I am thinking that it is either from the vent or a seal.  What really disturbs me is that occasionally there is a bit of a whine from the front end--bearings are good.  Also, the other day the Wife had it out and she said that there was a noise like she was dragging something--it went away after she stopped in a parking lot.  I thought that she was indeed dragging something but now I am wondering if the PTU is going out.  Strange that noise would go away though--my experience tells me that these things never "fix" themselves.  Tomorrow I am having a buddy run it up on his hoist to see if we can determine for sure where the leak is coming from and at the very least, top off the oil.  Hoping to get 2 more months out of the car since it is not worth replacing the PTU (if that is the real fix).  Thoughts/suggestions??

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I am not condemning the PTU! It is a very common thing to have it gunked up and start pushing stuff out the vent, If yours isn't wet, then it might not be actively pushing out fluid.

 

The PTU is supposedly lifetime fill, but there is a sight plug that can be used to pull out fluid (if it is still fluid and not carbon!) and fill it.

 

I thought mine was power steering fluid (you don't have power steering fluid) from where the smell was from and looks of some of the fluid, but it was way too viscous to be power steering fluid.

 

This is where mine dripped from the car:

48844993738_64859e92ad_h.jpg

 

This is what I started seeing that prompted me to look into it, I started smelling it a day earlier:

48845546357_f6c1152292_h.jpg

 

That threaded plug with the red sealant is the sight/fill plug:

48847938088_d12f1b4e14_h.jpg

 

Edited by bangster
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  • 1 year later...

There is a lot of info about PTU 's or PTO's and the "propane smell" or natural gas smell.  Mine has no leaks and I replaced most of the fluid. Suctioned out 13 oz and put 14 in to fill it to the fill hole.  I have found videos on line but mostly about the other ford AWD that have a similar set up.  Other forums have posts as well.

The best info I have found on this came from a SHO forum.  Below is a synopsis and here is the link:  https://ford.oemdtc.com/880/propane-or-natural-gas-odor-during-idle-or-low-speed-driving-2007-2015-ford-lincoln

 

Propane, Or Natural Gas Odor During Idle Or Low Speed Driving – 2007-2015 Ford & Lincoln

 oemdtc April 5, 2016
 
2007-2015 Various Vehicles Equipped With All Wheel Drive – Propane, Or Natural Gas Odor During Idle Or Low Speed Driving
2013-2015 MKZ vehicles equipped with a 3.7L, 2007-2014 Edge, 2007-2015 MKX, 2011-2015 Explorer, 2009-2015 Flex, 2010-2015 MKT, 2008-2015 Taurus, 2008-2009 Taurus X, 2009-2015 MKS, 2007-2012 Fusion/MKZ, and 2007-2011 Milan vehicles equipped with a PTU can exhibit a propane, or natural gas odor from the HVAC system after driving the vehicle for 20-45 minutes.
This odor, if present, is most noticeable while idling or during low speed driving.
Inspect the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) for fluid leaks and repair any leaks.
If odor is still present after the leak repair and cleaning, replace the PTU and vent hose, if equipped.
For vehicles with no leaks and odor present, replace the PTU along with the PTU vent hose, if equipped.
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