1989 F250 with 351 5.8L V8 motor.

I'm getting some kind of fumes in the driver's compartment ... it smells like a combination of coolant and exhaust if you can imagine that.

Actually, it smells like the engine compartment.

There are no leaks from the heater box.

I'm new to Ford Trucks. Can you get me started on tracking down this problem?

Thanks!!

 

Does it smell like exaust at all? If so there is a problem, other than that what is the temp like where you are? are you running A/C or Heat and if whichever run Both and see if the smell dissapates that can help track down the problem.
~Phil

 

Phil: Thanks for your reply.

It smells a little like exhaust, and also like coolant -- you know that sweet smell that coolant makes. The "Exhaust" smell might be something like the blow-by coming out of the motor.

It seems to get *worse* when I run the heater (It has no A/C).

Where does the air from the blower motor come from? Does it pull fresh air from outside, or from inside the cab?

Thanks for any other information you can provide.

PS: Motor has 282,000 miles

 

Ok ... yesterday I noticed the PCV tube running from the valve cover to the air box was disconnected from the air box.

I reconnected it, and the cab has improved dramatically. I'm not positive that's 100% of the problem, so I'll be sure to check some other things as well. Another forum recommended checking the Air Canister Purge Solenoid, as well as the Catalytic Converter Air Tube.

Thanks for helping, and I'll be sure to post further results as necessary