Strange smell when accelerating up steep hills

[Freakinoldguy]

Hi folks,

I've got a question. I own a 4x4 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 with the 4.8 Litre engine complete with the tow package and 12200 Km on it.

I recently took a trip from the coast to Banff Alberta and noticed something rather strange. When I accelerated up some of the steep hills in the mountains to pass people I could smell an odour that smelled like burning hair. This didn't happen everytime but did it often enough to make me wonder.

I thought it was the tranny but the temp never got above 64 degrees Celcuis when it was doing it.

Then tonight I got into Kamloops on my way home and went up a very steep hill to get to a restaraunt and noticed my tranny temp started climbing and went up to 96 degrees celcius. This was on the extremely steep highway and then into very busy stop and go traffic with the outside temp above 20 degrees celcius. I have never seen this tranny go that high before and to be honest it scared the crap out of me.

On the way back from the restaurant which was back down the same hill to flat roads the tranny temp went back down to 74 degrees celcius and stayed around there.

Could the tranny be the source of the odour and could it be getting ready to crap out.

BTW the engine temp gauge only went over 100 degrees celcius once on the hill in Kamloops before the fan kicked in and brought it back to it's normal operating temp but the tranny stayed high.

Thanks

F.O.G.

 

[Z15]

100° C is ONLY slightly above normal, which is 82°C to 93°C (180°F to 200°F).

Your trans will heat up some working hard such as climbing steep hills.

Maybe some fluid is leaking onto the hot exhaust? Refer to this info.

2007-2011 Full Size Trucks
PI0522 Tick or Rattle Noise from Front of Dash, Transmission Filler Tube Cracked or Broken (Inspect Filler Tube, Replace Tube as Necessary)

 

[Freakinoldguy]

100° C is ONLY slightly above normal, which is 82°C to 93°C (180°F to 200°F).

Your trans will heat up some working hard such as climbing steep hills.

Maybe some fluid is leaking onto the hot exhaust? Refer to this info.

Thanks for the info.

I took the truck the rest of the way home the next morning and it included another climb out of town followed up by a continual steep climb to the Surrey Lake Summit and despite all the climbing and running at 120 KMH the tranny temp stayed around 50 degrees centigrade so I guess it was just the heat and climb that gave me the high numbers the day before.

But the smell is still occasionally still there so I talked to a GM mechanic I know and he said it was likely the cat burning in especially since I only have 12600 KM on it.

But like I said before. Thanks for the info and I'll check the tube to make sure it's okay.

F.O.G.

 

[Ck owner]

I too live around alot of hills. If traffic is present and winds are minimal you will always notice a smell. That smell is from other vehicles emissions resulting from the workload of the steep hill. Not to worry. The temp increase is normal as well.