Hey Scotty, I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota 318 Magnum. I'm getting a burning smell, similar to what a valve cover leak smells like. However I'm not losing oil or seeing smoke. I'm thinking it's maybe one of my transmission fluid lines near my exhaust system. Does transmission fluid have this same smell when evaporating?
Burning transmission fluid smells different from oil, at least from my experience. Burning transmission fluid has like a "rubbery" smell to it (it's kind of hard to explain). But it definitely does not smell like oil burning. I would look at the transmission fluid pan and look for leaks, and also look at your valve cover.
@razmigb
Valve covers are clean and dry but the area below my driver side valve cover is wet. There is a transmission fluid line running through that area. Smells kinda like an exhaust leak mixed with burning oil. Haven't had this smell til recently. When I checked the transmission fluid it was basically empty
Is it possible to share a picture of the area your referring to? Just to get a better idea...
@razmigb
Yeah when I go outside I'll take some photos
Generally, transmission oil smells cleaner than engine oil, even when burning (I know....oxymoron).
Sometimes, depending on how clean the transmission fluid is, the vapor color will be different. With cleaner transmission fluid the "smoke" would be a bit grey-er or whiter as it burns than engine oil on an exhaust, for example. If it's dark, then it may not have the same effect and both would be similarly dark.
I'd also check your cooler lines to and from the radiator. Those Dodge lines are notorious for wiggling loose with mileage and leaking O-rings. The fan can then blow the leaking fluid back onto the exhaust and block making the "leak" more difficult to trace. We had a '99 Durango with the 318 in it that the cooler line coupling was simply loose at the radiator. I tightened them up and no more leaks.
