# Funny smell?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/funny-smell/1228>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 2, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/funny-smell/1228 "2007-07-02T22:51:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rdemore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce7236/32.png) [@rdemore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rdemore)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/funny-smell/1228/1 "2007-07-02T22:51:26Z")

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I have a '98 Toyota 4Runner 4WD. On long drives or those with hills, my truck makes a sulfur-like smell, almost like burning oil? It doesn’t seem to be affecting engine temperature and has been going on randomly for about 8 months. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/funny-smell/1228/2 "2007-07-03T01:13:52Z")

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I suspect you are smelling a bit of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S) coming out the exhaust. The fact that you mentioned hill climbing suggests this diagnosis.

If this happened only one time I would suggest you picked up a tankful of bad gas, one that had too much sulfur content. Since it recurs we consider a malfunction somewhere.

Some folks would quickly accuse the cat converter and they may be right. But this can be the result of an engine running too rich. I would start by giving your vehicle a basic tuneup, plugs and air filter, and see if there’s a difference.