Prado GXL 2020 Rubber Burning Smell

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

Hello all,
Bought brand new Prado last month. Have done 500km. So far so good apart from - rubber burning smell. On about 4-5 occasions now I have noticed (cant not!) a very strong rubber burning smell in the car when i am coming to a halt. It smells like some one has just done burn outs. What is worrying is my car windows are up when we can smell it. Took it to the service centre and they checked it and said - there is nothing wrong - it might be the DPF and that the smell will remain forever?? I explained them the smell is very very strong and then the technician said "Oh it should not be coming INSIDE the car??" I informed them well it is ... and it is very strong. He said well we have checked everything and everything looks in order. Next time it happens just bring the car straight over??
Has any one had similar experience?

Thank you.

[Grinbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grinbot]

I've had my Prado GX 2018 for 2 years now and I've never had any smells like that.

[Gurilla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gurilla]

It would be the dpf.. I notice it very strong when it burns you do get used to it.. my father in-law got a new 2020 prado also and he was stressing about the burning rubber smell also but it’s the dpf.. maybe some can smell it more then others ?

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

I've had my Prado GX 2018 for 2 years now and I've never had any smells like that.

I have another one - bought brand new in 2015 - never smelled like that...

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

It would be the dpf.. I notice it very strong when it burns you do get used to it.. my father in-law got a new 2020 prado also and he was stressing about the burning rubber smell also but it’s the dpf.. maybe some can smell it more then others ?

Hi there, i am glad i am not the only one. cause the technician made it sound like they NEVER had a similar complaint....yes even the technician said it must be the dpf... but the smell should not come inside the car if all windows are up.. and no it is not a smell that one can get used to or some can smell it more than others... any occupant can smell it... my children, their friends... my friends.... it is very strong... like i said... it is like doing burn outs with windows wide open...
My worry is - the carbon particles that are causing the smell - are going in my children's lungs... and considering how strong it is... it concerns me. And it concerns me a lot more when the technician says.. it will stay like that for ever?!?
Is there a way i can get in touch with any one with similar issue?
Any one else who might have a similar issue?

[Gurilla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Gurilla]

I can never smell it in the car though only when I get out when car is in garage once turned off

[Grinbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grinbot]

I can smell the DPF after it has been operating *outside* the car, never inside the car.

My guess at the cause: maybe some glue/sealant on a component that gets a little hot - but I don't really know. Even if you manage to take it in while the smell is there, it'll be very hard to pin point where the smell is coming from.

It must be pretty frustrating for you.

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

I can smell the DPF after it has been operating *outside* the car, never inside the car.

My guess at the cause: maybe some glue/sealant on a component that gets a little hot - but I don't really know. Even if you manage to take it in while the smell is there, it'll be very hard to pin point where the smell is coming from.

It must be pretty frustrating for you.

It is frustrating for sure. Is there a way to know when DPF kicks in? Like i said... the smell is not there while we are driving ....the smell is not there EVERY time we are coming to a halt - it is only one out of 5-6 times... that gives credence to the theory that smell comes in when DPF kicks in... is there a way for me to know - an indicator or something - that can tell me DPF has kicked in? may be i can correlated the two together? also i was thinking - that setting that does not allow outside air to come inside the car... may be i should also try to keep it on... may be when dpf kicks in it sucks outside air in?

[Grinbot Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grinbot]

When I had my Prado in for the DPF software recall in March 2019, Toyota enabled what is called "DPF custom mode". It is an optional software feature that you have to request be enabled.

With "DPF custom mode" enabled, I get a "DPF regeneration in process" message in the dash when the DPF burn is occurring. I like knowing when it is happening.

I think it would be worth asking Toyota to enable that for you, then you can monitor for a correlation.

But... for the DPF smell to make it into the cabin, wouldn't that mean there is some sort of issue with the integrity of the cabin, so wouldn't you get other engine smells too?

[Brett1979 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Brett1979]

The smell could be pulling in through the rubber boot seal at the bottom or sides if its got a small gap there somewhere, wouldn’t take much, or through the soft foam block squished into the corner of the boot covering up a hole to allow the air pressure to equalise with the outside and escape when you close a door or maybe even one of the larger rubber bungs is missing or dislodged under the car. I’d be looking at those things first. I know when I open my sunroof only a smaller portion of the way or only tilt it open for example, it creates a suction from the boot area where the cabin pulls in a little bit of air. You can smell the mild smell of exhaust gases coming up along side your face as it gets sucked out of the sunroof.

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

With "DPF custom mode" enabled, I get a "DPF regeneration in process" message in the dash when the DPF burn is occurring. I like knowing when it is happening.
But... for the DPF smell to make it into the cabin, wouldn't that mean there is some sort of issue with the integrity of the cabin, so wouldn't you get other engine smells too?

Custom mode sounds like a great idea. I like knowing as well. So thank you for pointing me there. Regarding your second comment - you have a point... but i dont have an explanation... :-(

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

The smell could be pulling in through the rubber boot seal at the bottom or sides if its got a small gap there somewhere,

Will going under the car suffice to check for the rubber boot seals? I prefer looking from outside than pulling the carpet out.

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

If the burning rubber smell is there every 5 or 6 times you stop I doubt it is the DPF unless you have a very repeatable trip that correlates to the DPF burn cycle. In 2 years I have only noticed once the DPF burn when I have pulled up.
I also would not describe a DPF burn as burning rubber, perhaps there is some sealant or loose material contacting your exhaust, that should slowly disappear as it burns away though.

Lee

Just a thought, did you get any rust proofing or sealant/treatment applied when you bought it, if so that might be what is burning off and would be different to others.

[tiwana Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tiwana]

I also would not describe a DPF burn as burning rubber, perhaps there is some sealant or loose material contacting your exhaust, that should slowly disappear as it burns away though. Just a thought, did you get any rust proofing or sealant/treatment applied when you bought it, if so that might be what is burning off and would be different to others.

I will explore the underside of the car over the weekend and next time i smell it.
No. There isnt rust proofing, treatment or paint coat.
Thank you for the ideas.

[watsea Member Find all posts View Profile Close watsea]

Hi Tirana

Are you sure it's a burning rubber smell? My 2019 Prado had a new tyre smell for ages, that is, for months. The new Dunlop tyres had a strong odour.