Back from Myrtle Beach - Need to identify source of odor

[tom winslow]

We just got in from Myrtle Beach.

On route home, we noticed an odor in the coach. The odor seemed to be coming
from somewhere near the front driving area. The odor smells like sewer, or
rotten eggs, or sulfur dioxide, or maybe like a fart.

I stopped the coach several times and checked to be sure that a battery had
not boiled over or was shorted. Everything seemed to be in order. Finally, I
decided to check the transmission fluid. It was a little low so we topped it
off. I smelled the transmission fluid on the dip stick but it did not have
the 'smell' as described above. Although, the smell inside the coach
resembles 'cooked' transmission fluid.

Any suggestions as to what should be my next step?

tw

- --
Tom Winslow
1974 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
Web Page: http://www.iredell.com

 

[voyager]

Tom,
Is Your traveling companion someone who you have been with a long time.
I have found that in new relationships people tend not to let the other
know when they pass gas...Sometimes blaming it on the pet dog...Do you
travel with a dog? If not, blame it on the GMC. :.)
Rob Teed 74 Painted Desert

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailtowner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Tom Winslow
> Sent: Saturday, March 27, 1999 12:10 AM
> To: GMC Motorhome List
> Subject: GMC: Back from Myrtle Beach - Need to identify source of odor
> Importance: High
>
>
> We just got in from Myrtle Beach.
>
> On route home, we noticed an odor in the coach. The odor seemed
> to be coming
> from somewhere near the front driving area. The odor smells like sewer, or
> rotten eggs, or sulfur dioxide, or maybe like a fart.
>
> I stopped the coach several times and checked to be sure that a
> battery had
> not boiled over or was shorted. Everything seemed to be in order.
> Finally, I
> decided to check the transmission fluid. It was a little low so
> we topped it
> off. I smelled the transmission fluid on the dip stick but it did not have
> the 'smell' as described above. Although, the smell inside the coach
> resembles 'cooked' transmission fluid.
>
> Any suggestions as to what should be my next step?
>
> tw
>
> --
> Tom Winslow
> 1974 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
> 189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
> h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
> E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
> Web Page: http://www.iredell.com
>
>
>
>

 

[dave1]

>... odor smells like sewer, or
>rotten eggs, or sulfur dioxide, ....

Here is a possibility...

Most of the plumbing in the GMC's is plastic. But, for some unknown reason,
they used 1 1/2" close galvanized nipples to connect the plastic drains and
vents to the plastic holding tank. After 20 years or so the steel rusts out
and the connection breaks. The pipes still pretty much stay put but I
noticed the rotten egg smell you referred to while driving. The crack in
the pipe allows sewer gas to be sucked into the living area. It took a
couple years before one of the pipes moved to where it leaked enough to
notice the dripping. I replaced the galvanized with PVC and that solved the
problem. These fittings are hard to get to but probably worth checking if
you cant find any other explanation.

Dave
73 Sequoia