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Sulfur Smell from Toyota 4Runner

862 messages,  Last post on Aug 20, 2009 at 3:48 PM

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What is this discussion about? Toyota 4Runner, Engine, Exhaust, Fuel System, SUV

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#9 of 862 sulfur dioxide by reddfish Jul 13, 2003 (7:29 pm)
sulfur dioxide is harmful to children and older people with asthma. If it's coming thru your a/c vents, it's a health issue.
#10 of 862 by q45man Jul 14, 2003 (4:55 am)
Many of US refineries were designed to process crude from high Sulfur oil and thus need feed stocks from garbage oil countries whose oil is cheaper than high quality feed stocks. The disruptions of oil from Venezuela have lead to changes. Plus with new low sulfur regs coming out soon the refineries have rushed to use up all the cheaper garbage oil in the world.   The other problem is the new LEV catalyst which are more efficient but more tempermental as to gasoline quality.   Ever wonder what the phrase sweet crude means.
#11 of 862 sulfur content by reddfish Jul 14, 2003 (6:26 am)
Toyota's TSB on the sulfur says that CA is the only state that requires the lower sulfur content in gasoline. Toyota corporate says all states should be compliant by 2005. So your choices are to live with the smell if you have it, drive to California for fuel, or wait until 2005 to buy your Toyota 4runner.
#12 of 862 Sulfur Smell by chesterz Jul 14, 2003 (9:02 am)
I bought my 4Runner a few months ago, and just this past weekend detected a faint sulfur smell. I noticed it after put my foot to the floor from a standing start. (I won't apologize for doing that, I was getting ahead of a kid in a beat up Camero who had cut me off.) This is the only time I have noticed anything like that with the truck.   I have noticed other postings about the smell, and some people detect it all of the time.   I will continue to watch for it.
#13 of 862 Smell during heavy acceleration by corancher Jul 14, 2003 (9:54 am)
I'm not sure it's been recommended in this thread yet, but those interested should consider searching and reviewing the main 4Runner discussion. There's a ton of smell discussion there, including the fact that many (most? all?) of the 4Runners and other recent catalyst-equipped vehicles will smell during and immediately after heavy acceleration. I, for one, posted instructions for an easy experiment to try to produce and detect the smell.   It's apparently due to the burn-off of the sulfur deposits in the converters which primarily occurs during heavy acceleration. The V8s seem to have the problem more frequently, but the V6s and many other models & makes have it too. I wonder if the difference between the V6 and V8 models is related to the fact (if I understand it correctly) that the V6 uses 4 catalysts and the V8 uses 3? It seems like significant and/or frequent production of the smell requires a set of conditions (including fuel and engine operating regime) that most people don't get into too often. On the other hand, some folks have reported experiencing it all the time, even with the windows rolled up and with fresh air coming into the cabin. That's a real puzzler, and I haven't heard an adequate explanation.
#14 of 862 exhaust noise on acceleration by jstanist Jul 28, 2003 (3:35 pm)
I not only get a sulfur smell from my '03 v-6 but also a lot of detonation noise on acceleration does anyone get this noise as well?
#15 of 862 Detonation noise? by corancher Jul 28, 2003 (3:44 pm)
True detonation can damage an engine very quickly, and the 4Runner (and most/all modern engines) have sensors and computer software to prevent it. I haven't heard this kind of noise, and suggest you take a drive with your dealer's service manager right away to make sure you don't have a serious problem.
#16 of 862 jstanist by terrafirma Jul 29, 2003 (3:01 am)
I think you are talking about the rattling sound during acceleration. That is normal and because they didn't make the manifold thick enough to insulate the sound away. It's not harmful in anyway. It sounds a bit out of place because otherwise it is so refined but it's not a problem.
#17 of 862 thanks by jstanist Jul 29, 2003 (2:44 pm)
#18 of 862 thanks by jstanist Jul 29, 2003 (2:46 pm)
Thanks for the responses I don't think it's true detonation noise but sounds more like a rolling "D" on on acceleration. If this is normal it's to bad because your right the vehicle is otherwise very refined

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