Question
Have you suffered from headaches, nausea, flu like symptoms, get out of the truck for a couple of days to feel better only when you return to the truck get ill all over again? You may be suffering from low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning. It happened to me. Do you suffer from lack of concentration, apprehension, anxiety? Those could be symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning also. It could kill ya...
If you have experienced this please respond with the following information:
Make and year of truck
What symptoms you had
How long have they lasted
Did you seek medical treatment
Answer
I have heard it said that diesel engines do not produce carbon monxide, but I do know that an exhaust leak is serious and what ever it is that the engine belches forth can cause many if not all the syptoms mentioned.
How do I know? It happened to me.
I was driving a 2000 Freightliner Classic with around 500,000 miles on it. Over the period of about 2 months I started to become ill slowly.
Syptoms that developed:
Headaches
Excessively tired (got to the point I was sleeping 12+ hours per day)
Difficultly breathing
Chest pains
muscle stiffness and soreness
and just a general all over aching feeling like crap all the time
I honestly thought it was my heart causing me problems and sought medical attention. Had EKG's, stress tests, etc and was found that there was nothing wrong with my heart.
When the symptoms first began I would feel better being out of the truck for a few hours, then as time progressed it was a day or two beforeI felt well. By the time I went to see a doctor and got out of that truck for good (was fired for taking too much time off for medical reasons)it was about a month before I felt right again.
Answer
There is something about the 2000 Freightliner, a man in Florida died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the family sued and won 4.43 million dollars. I am suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning but by the grace of God I am here to tell you about it and yes it was a 2000 Freightliner. I am now perminantly disabled. I have had all the symptoms you described plus I wound up in a wheelchair and could not speak for some time. I still can't walk very well but I can speak again although sometimes not very well. I have emailled you and left my cell phone number, you can call anytime, if I don't answer it is only because I will be at a doctor's visit. My number one suggestion is see a doctor that is trained in toxicology, if you can't find one then I'll give you my doctors name and address, his office is in Waco, Texas. Best Wishes
Answer
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Answer
Say what??????
Whoever you heard that said by was an idiot. All engines, whether they burn gasoline, diesel or coal produce carbon monoxide. Actually, anything that burns produces CO. The symptoms you mentioned are clasic CO poisoning symptoms.
Answer
You are right about most matter that we normally deal with on a day to day basis that burns does create carbon monoxide, but even though I'm not a chemist, I don't believe that everything that burns will produce carbon monoxide. But one thing I have learned first hand, petroleum products (all of them) do produce carbon monoxide and diesel fuel produces over 100 other dangerous chemicals in addition to carbon monoxide. A lot has happened to my mind and body since my poisoning from diesel exaust to include everyone from the mechanic to my doctors saying that I should be dead, but here I am anyway, for how long I don't know. The poisons in diesel will do a lot more than the symptoms that you have mentioned if you inhale enough of it. For a long time I could not speak or walk and forget having a memory, no pun intended. I have been told that it is worse to have carbon monoxide poisoning like I had than to have a major stroke but I don't know, I've never had a stroke, at least not yet. Best advise I can give is to see a doc that is a trained Toxicologist, believe me, diesel fumes are extreamly dangerous.
Answer
The argument that diesel engines do not produce carbon monoxide is untrue. In fact, the Office of Defects Investigation (part of NHTSA) actually performed an investigation into Freightliner trucks due to carbon monoxide leaks. One of the problems investigated is related to the Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines with EGR. It's possible that there was a problem with the design that was allowing the seals on the EGR components to leak.
There is also a possible problem with the design of the engine compartments of recent Freightliners (FLD, Century, Columbia) that allows carbon monoxide to enter into the cab through the HVAC air intake.
Please email me or IM me if you have experienced problems with exhaust leaks with post 2000 Freightliner's or with any truck running the detroit series 60 EGR engine.
Answer
For those who continue to think that diesel engines do not produce carbon monoxide, I thought I would post the link to the government investigation.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/defectsearch.cfm
Type in the "NHTSA action number" which is: PE04036
Answer
I am a owner/opp, been in this over 29yrs,
First time I have ever bought a new truck, always had used trucks,
The fume problem, Had to go to emer/room 3 times,
My family doctor, told my wife an I that I have COPD, 14 months I took
the lies, The fumes cant hurt you,
My blood presure got up to 180/105,
coulnt breath,
Flu like symtoms twice,
Had DOT phyical 10 days before I bought that new truck,
lungs were clear, blood presure normal not taking any medication,
Had head aches,burning eyes, tired all the time,
Started to spit up flem.
Theres a female with COPD, that drove for Prime,She said that she was
in an out of shops because of fumes,
Theres a husband/wife team out of Washington who now has COPD,
I had to put gray tape over air vents, still didnt stop the fumes.
Theres an artical in a mag, About a driver who got sick,
Theres alot to this.
My family an I have taked to alot of drivers.
I had to seek legal action.
We are going to get to the bottom of this.
I hope that no drivers have injured them selfs or others while driving down
the road(accidents).
This seems to be a case of big business , being more concerned with
profit than peoples safety,
If anyone has any questions, feel free to contac me,
Like I said theres alot to this.
Answer
Drivers beware
If you know any drivers , that has an is driving a freightliner, columbia,century,
with a detroit, they may possibly be taking in toxic fumes in side of cab,
Sun ,I talked to two drivers, one stated he just got out of one, an maybe thats why he hadnt felt good, the other driver stated that her company, that she
just started to work for, told her an others, to becarefull of possible fumes
that may come into cab.
I have a hand written note from a driver, that last winter, on the phone on a recording beware of possible fumes.
Last week I was told about a driver who had died in the truck last year.
I have talked to Oh,IL,IN state police about this.
They told me that at a accident cite, they check for drugs/booze ,Blood.
That the queston about fumes was a good one, an that they were going to check it out.
Has there been any accidents from this where a driver had a stroke/heartattic
fell a sleep behind the wheel, Its something to think about.
When I first experinced this I told freightliner, they said no one else was
having problems, but yet they had a lawsuit going on with swift driver
who had died,
I had to go to the emer/room three times
blood presure 180/105, had problems breathing,
burning eyes,headackes,
this got so far out of hand that I had to park the truck, it was unsafe to drive
My doctor told my wife an I that I now have COPD.
10 days before I bought that new truck , I had to have a DOT pyhsical
Lungs were clear, blood presure normal, without medication.
The drivers that I have talked to were not warned, about this till they talked
to me.
Theres no telling how many drivers, have been sick an didnt know why.
1-tired all the time
2-spitting up flem
3-head ackes
4-flu symtoms
5- hard breathing
6-blood presure
7-sinus
an more
But like I said if you or anyone you know, an are experincing these kind of
problems, let them know.
I feel that this is very unsafe for the driver, an the public around them.
Oh by the way, I have a copy of a memo, that detroit was aware of fumes
in 1998,
Two wks ago over the phone ,This one driver went to a detroit shop,an asked
if there were fumes coming into the cabs, They said yes, He got a little upset
and asked why the drivers arent being told about this.
With all the work I had on my truck it didnt fix the problem.
EGR,gaskets,exhaust manifold,flex pipes,you name it
Detroit in az, could smell fumes inside, an when I had my truck looked at
investigated, the person said,that you could taste it,as well as smell it.
Now I repeat was this unsafe.
Answer
Friday I contacted the government over the fume issue, that the problem is still out there over fumes inside freightliners, found out that there were
46 complaints made, the gov closed this case, saying that frightliner/ detroit
was going to fix this problem, mean while last Sunday I talked to Three drivers
that said they have been ILL.
Sat in there trucks an could smell fumes,
I have talked to drivers who couldn;t figure out why they were sick.
Symtoms, eye irritated,flu like symtoms, tired all the time,
From my findings , an being concerned over this issue, An my oppion
the problem is still out there.
Would there be more than 46 complaints made if the drivers knew what was going on.
The one driver just got this truck, couldnt remember what happen to
the driver before him.Now could it be possible that to make past driver
pleased they gave the driver another truck, an put new driver into this
truck an might of put this drivers safety an Health at risk.
It seems or the same responce I get from other drivers who have had
problems or symtoms never heard anything about this, this really
strkes me wrong.
Think about this.
If you put the fresh air mode on, what are you expecting, fumes from engine
or fresh air.
Winter time what happens to the air outside.
Are you to leave your window down going down the road, better have a warm
jacket on.
Over a year now I have asked a lot of questons,
I urge you if you have had exhaust problems an possible taking it into your
truck, an making you sick.
Call these phone No# 1-888-327-4236, 1-800-424-9153, 202-484-5238
NHTSA,
You dont have to have your health at risk, or be a danger to the public
hyways, this is your lively hood.
My health , I have COPD now.
The problem seams to be from the detroit engine,
Maxx
Answer
Yesterday I talked with an x arrow driver, this is what he had to say.
Quote, He thought that they had at least 180 trucks go back, fumes,ect.
He also stated that he had gotten sick, also stated that arrow had seeked
legal action against detroit, Quote.
Find out why create trucking, are holding onto the old trucks, Quote from another driver, still with company.
Gainey trucking
Anderson trucking
Hunt transportation
Shaver transportaion. ( sister company of create)
Like I said I have done alot of investegating, I cant give phone no# of
drivers over the internet.
Maxx
Answer
Talked with a diesel mech, who was in the navy,
She also stated that the new engines, egr engines (detroit)
theres also a problem with the antifreeze, engine runs hot, an the detroit
egr system causes when failed antifreze seems to burn an in oil, deposits
of antifreze in oil,
From my understanding of what she said, from the blow by tube, particals
of antifreeze, an which when burned can cause falmadihide, I do know
that I got some weird taste on my lips like a oil sweet taste,n an on my face.
Some of my spelling might be off.
Could this cause lung problems when inhaled, with carbonmonoxide.
I will find out.also when I had one of the wittneses ride in the truck, he stated
that you dont just smell this crap butyou can taste it.
Iam only QUOTING from what the mech said, an my wittness said.
I will be asking more questions in the future, will be back
Answer
Well its sun 11/13
I talked to the mech again over the phone.
An if I got the information right, Look up formaldehide/antifreeze.
If the egr system fails, The mech said that the antifreeze get in the oil as well
exhaust. Not just carbonmonoxide, but the fumes from antifreeze which gives
off formaldehide,
side effects, burning eyes, headackes, breathing problems, will make you ILL.
From what I read about formaldehide it gives off same health effects, if inhaled
This I feel should never happen inside of these cabs.
Think about it fumes from blow by tube, oil,carbonmonxide, antifreeze,
formaldehyde, An this crap maybe comming inside the cabs,
I had alot of problems with the EGR system in my 2003 columbia,freightliner
If this information is right, an you as a driver getting sick, Have yourself checked
out.
I do know that this stuff got on my face an I could taste an oil sweet taste on
my lipps, which made me iLL.
It just seems to me that this toxic crap should of never happened,
this crap was comming from my vents.
Taped over the vents, an still fumes comming into the cab.
Answer
I recieved a email from a driver, sun 11/13
I went to alot of lawyers, But I did find one.
Last night I recieved a copy of a letter that was sent to nhtsa,
In which freightliner did a test, there findings.
If enough fumes are under the hood,they evantually may enter the cab
throughdoor leaks,windows or fresh air intakes.the exhaust fumes into the cab is believed to be a low speed or idle.
But why was it said on the case about the florida driver who died, in his truck
an freightliner stated that they dont make truck that would allow carbonmonoxide in.
Also they stated in this report I got that there are no known negative health effects from exposure to low concentrations of diesel exhaust.
Why is it , there seems to be drivers sick,
Most of the drivers that I have talked to have experinced the same symtoms.
I do believe that every person has a different tollrance,
But wht this did to me, an the emr rooms.
Look into TEAMSTERS SAFETY & HEALTH FACTS,
ibtsafety@teamster.org
Look into freightliner lawsuit, locate Nelson family.
If you look long enough on the stories, an facts.
You may come to the same conclusions as I have,an others.
WHATS REALLY GOING ON HERE.
Also I had to purchace another truck, guess what, The spitting up flem,
the visits to the emerg room, coughing, eyes burning, headackes, gone
still have problems with the lungs, my dr. told me an my wife that I have COPD.
an stated to me a my wife that I wasnt sick untill I bought that truck.
Well if I come accross more information, I will post it.
If you know or suspect fumes coming into your cab, dont mess around
try to have it fixed,or park it.
Under DOT REG,