TC10284 113 #1 Posted September 1, 2020 (edited) OK, so I have a 416-8 with Kohler Magnum M16, and now experiencing this some with an M14 on a 414-8. I start them up, and get a weird smell from the exhaust until they get up to operating temp. It's really hard to describe...It's smells like some type of chemical burning off. It eventually quits when the engine gets hot. The 414-8 didn't start doing this until this year - the same engine in my other post "Kohler M14 rattling", which is why I'm now sorta concerned. They both have plenty of fresh oil. I haven't used any oil additives. The only fuel additives I've possibly used could be MMO or Startron. But I know what MMO burning off smells like and it's not that. No heavy smoking like oil burning. Has anyone else experienced this or know if it means anything I should be aware of? Edited September 1, 2020 by TC10284 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 59,999 #2 Posted September 1, 2020 Are you running gas with ethanol? That stuff breaks down in no time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roadapples 6,983 #3 Posted September 1, 2020 I've used Startron for years in all my small engines including an M16 and never noticed any strange smell.... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 10,202 #4 Posted September 1, 2020 I have also used Startron for 10 years in all the single and twin cylinder engines with no strange odor. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TC10284 113 #5 Posted September 2, 2020 2 hours ago, 953 nut said: Are you running gas with ethanol? That stuff breaks down in no time. I mostly stick to pure 87 or 90 gas. Although occasionally I may fill my cans up with E10. However, I never smell this from the Onan's. It doesn't smell like old gas or any type of alcohol/ethanol that I've ever smelled. Honestly it smells kind of like when you clean a flat top stove and it burns off the chemical cleaner when you heat it up to use it. It smells almost like a cleaner or like some type of ceramic with a chemical heating up. Or maybe like a plastic melting? I've never smelled anything like it before until I got the 416-8 with Kohler M16. And now the 414-8 which I've had a few years and it just started. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TC10284 113 #6 Posted October 11, 2020 I think it's MMO in the oil after I tested it in another Kohler. It's a funky smell compared to what it smells like when running it in a car. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
