Natural gas smell

200

Asked by Kristalbean Mar 24, 2019 at 05:51 PM about the 2016 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

While driving my 2016 explorer today I noticed a
strong natural gas like odor, then the car sputtered
and died. What's going on?

11 Answers

7,605

Would have the OBD read for stored codes and the fuel system looked at as mentioned above. The 2011-2015 models did have a TSB for exhaust venting issues TSB 16-0166 but the car cutting out problem is perhaps unrelated. My first thought was an O2 sensor or catalytic converter but the car is not that old unless it's high mileage. Good Luck!

7 people found this helpful.
120

My nephew just bought a 2016 with 45,000 miles and it does the same thing. Smelled it as soon as I stepped up to the vehicle. Just like natural gas coming from the engine bay.

12 people found this helpful.
200

Yes. It was the differential transfer case... The tires weren't spinning at the same speed.

11 people found this helpful.
70

Did any figure out what the smell was? Mine also has the awful smell in the cabin and also on the outside around the hood.

7 people found this helpful.
40

Mine it's a 2014 and I have the same smell inside the cabin and around the hood too. Does anyone know or have an idea what can be causing this smell?

4 people found this helpful.
60

The smell of natural gas coming from your suv is the catalytic converter. It's going bad and needs to be serviced.

6 people found this helpful.
120

It is not the catalytic converter going bad. You are smelling natural gas but it's really the vent for the transfer case that is causing that smell. Your transfer case is going bad. You smell it so strong by the battery and in front of the car because the vent is up under the manifold

12 people found this helpful.
40

We had this problem on are transfer case It was leaking oil And the smell was horrible exspecially at full throttle don’t thinks it’s exhaust but transfer case leak and the oil stinks when hot

4 people found this helpful.
50

The smell is from the transfer case heat breaking down the gear oil and that Emirates from the breather. It’s very strong in the cabin especially if you put the A/C or heat on.

5 people found this helpful.

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