X738 smells on startup

bobsphotos · Feb 17, 2019

This is going to seem like a weird question but I have a 2017 X738 with the Kawasaki motor which stinks when I start it up. The exhaust smell is so nasty, I will not start it up in my shop. It is better once it has warmed up but still really smells. It has 40 hours on it and has smelled since day one.
Anyone else experience this?
Thanks, Bob W

Been There Twice · Feb 17, 2019

The only thing you suppose to be burning is fuel...unless you have some foul smelling gas from somewhere. I'm sure you aren't burning oil, as you would have some smoking from the exhaust, and you know what burning oil smells like. Could be something in the fuel tank.

Can you open up the fuel tank and take a whiff of the gas and maybe get some of the same odor? Also, you might check with the dealer and ask if this has happens to others X738 tractors that has been sold at the same time.

Kish318420 · Feb 17, 2019

Check all fluids, especially the coolant and oil. Are you having to add any? oil/coolant over the 40 hours? A foul smell could be a coolant leak into the engine/cylinders.

radios1 · Feb 17, 2019

a rotten egg smell could be from a catalytic converter.. or maybe mice built a nest in your exhaust, and you are cooking them?.

Kish318420 · Feb 17, 2019

X738 has no catalytic converter, only a muffer

coobie · Feb 17, 2019

radios1 said:
a rotten egg smell could be from a catalytic converter.. or maybe mice built a nest in your exhaust, and you are cooking them?.

The X738 has NO catalytic converter.As your usual posts no merit.

ruffdog · Feb 17, 2019

I will assume CO demands E10 fuel which has more of a nose burning harshness to it. I don't notice it as much in the cars.

Richard001 · Feb 17, 2019

I'll go with a mouse nest.

Look around for it.

Richard

the old grind · Feb 18, 2019

If you use STA-BIL in your gas it adds a pungent odor to your exhaust, but IMO that doesn't resemble a cooked, dead animal much.

We might expect anything in the muffler to 'cook out' after 40 hrs, but critters in my barn like to use f-glass insulation for bedding.

Could it be a wasp nest or something that's been there since the dealership? :scratchchin:

bobsphotos · Feb 19, 2019

Thanks to all for the replies. I should have added this in the beginning. After it warms up, it smells normal. That being said, I realize when it is cold it will run rich but boy does it smell.

Been There Twice · Feb 19, 2019

I suspect you have some coolant leak in a cylinder head. Due to the low hours, there isn't a large amount now, but, as more hours go on the tractor it will increase. The leak probably is more after a shutdown, there allowing the coolant to form in the cylinder. Best to do a compression cylinder test and see how much one cylinder is low.

tomplum · Feb 19, 2019

In my experience coolant will be a sweeter smell, but then again could vary to the type of coolant. Realizing that you are in your warranty period, you could try an easy test. Take a very small amount of coolant from the radiator, warm the engine and pour 1/4 ounce of it on the hot exhaust pipe. Similar smell? If you are maintaining your coolant level and there is no sign of coolant migrating to the oil and visa versa I doubt that a compression test will tell you anything. You'd be hard pressed to see a change on the spark plug deposits too if that is the case. Has your dealer taken an opportunity to check this out?

Been There Twice · Feb 19, 2019

The owner claims he failed to mention the odor went away after the engine warms up in his original posting. It doesn't take just couple minutes for these engine to warm up, so, if there is coolant in the combustion chamber so much as a tablespoon amount it probably will that time to fully burn the coolant off and out the exhaust. If it was the fuel that is the cause he would continue to have a foul odor all the time.

Besides, a tablespoon of coolant in a head would take many engine starts for the level to show up as being low.

radios1 · Feb 19, 2019

tomplum said:
In my experience coolant will be a sweeter smell, but then again could vary to the type of coolant. Realizing that you are in your warranty period, you could try an easy test. Take a very small amount of coolant from the radiator, warm the engine and pour 1/4 ounce of it on the hot exhaust pipe. Similar smell? If you are maintaining your coolant level and there is no sign of coolant migrating to the oil and visa versa I doubt that a compression test will tell you anything. You'd be hard pressed to see a change on the spark plug deposits too if that is the case. Has your dealer taken an opportunity to check this out?

I never tried it, but I'd think coolant would make the engine smoke!. if someone wants to remove a spark plug, and pour a little into their combustion chamber, let us know the results..

tomplum · Feb 19, 2019

Really it may just be perception. 40 hours. Since new. One would assume that external surfaces have been checked for foreign matter. It has had a lot of starts and restarts over 40 hours. Should it be coolant, the level on the overflow tank would be decreasing, no mater how insignificant. Best to watch it closely and consistently. Maybe some initial smells from paint and plating conditioning, but that should be done by now. You could grasp at few other straws. Heck, maybe it is the fuel from the Y-Go-By fuel station. A shot of that cologne you never liked that you got for Christmas 5 years ago in each fuel fill?:laughing:

Been There Twice · Feb 20, 2019

The owner of this 2017 X738 hasn't said he bought the tractor new from the dealer. If he bought it new, he should have called the dealer regarding the smell at startup. With the number of hours on the meter he has run many gallons of gas through the system. Should he have bought gas that had some sort substance, by now he would have used up the fuel.
Therefore, until we know this, we have no idea if and when the odor at startup started new or later. Also, we have learned the odor is only at startup and that would indicate it comes from the exhaust...and is a internal source.