Is this normal? Blue greasy coating after initial burn in, see pics. Yes I read the FAQ thread.

[Timmy]

I know, I had one when I was the perfect age, 19

I didn't have a 442 but a Cutlass S, dropped a 455 in it. Couldn't keep trannys or tires on it. I was 18 or 19.

Edit: It was a 1970.

 

[Olds442]

Anyway, I was just trying to point out that is could be a certain kind of factory oil that is doing that, thus remove the oil...
NOW, and I hope you don't find this out the hard way, but Traeger could have changed something ..

let's hope not because there's no way they'd want to recommend cooking after one hour worth of break in. it's spittin' nasty goo.

lawyers would poop.

I didn't have a 442 but a Cutlass S, dropped a 455 in it. Couldn't keep trannys or tires on it. I was 18 or 19.

i had a '74 cutlass salon with the huge wide back crushed velour buckets and a console shifter. 350 rocket 4 barrel. later came the 442 and Stage 1. but replacing a gremlin with a cutlass salon was a day i'll never forget. (it was like they gave me a gold plated man card.)


the 442 and the Stage 1 both had built 455s. torque is king.

 

[Timmy]

And yet another thing in common, I've restored and built so many I've lost count. Used to collect anything New Braunfels.
Anyway, I was just trying to point out that is could be a certain kind of factory oil that is doing that, thus remove the oil...
NOW, and I hope you don't find this out the hard way, but Traeger could have changed something in their manufacturing lately that none of us had to deal with. This could be something NEW and you might have the same goo on your 2nd one... i sure hope not indeed!!!!

Man I hope not! That's gonna be a mess for a while if they did.

 

[Olds442]

And yet another thing in common, I've restored and built so many I've lost count.

that happens. my favorite old weber restore was a kettle gasser from the late 70s. awesome old bird that ran like a champ. i'd love to find another to have for quick gasser type cooks. it was so cool and restored to like new condition with an sos pad and new lava stones.

 

[Olds442]

so i emailed the pics over to the fine folks at ABT. service is out until tomorrow so I won't hear back today. they'll make it right one way or another.

 

[Slimpicker]

so i emailed the pics over to the fine folks at ABT. service is out until tomorrow so I won't hear back today. they'll make it right one way or another.

Well i don't doubt that cuz ABT does kick @$$

 

[Olds442]

since it's just sitting here staring at me while i pick up sticks in the yard, i decided to do another tear down, clean up, and re-fire.

i was gifted with great smelling smoke at 200f, ran it there for a good while, then bumped it up to 350. i plan on going for a good while and then bringing it back to 200f, then up to 450f, and run it there for a whiles.

why not, nothing wrong with another whack at it.

more good news, i flipped two of the 22" weber kettles i had as soon as i listed them over at the kettle club site. success.

 

[Olds442]

i fell like it's getting worse.

not as much smell as early on, but eww.

 

[Slimpicker]

Also pick up a bag of a different pellet, in case you haven't read, Traeger pellets have oils added to them for flavor.

this is the 3rd time your rig has been up to 450°?? and the ONLY thing it is burning now is a pellet, a Traeger cannot burn anything else but the pellets you feed it... there is no oil for the parts, or grease packing anywhere... so if you also don't try a different pellet (and that's been the problem) then you will have the same "eww" on the new one too...

 

[Timmy]

Check this out there is some good info...

Pellets - Pellet Dust Test ► Results Are In

I'll just get right to it ► Test was for DUST amount in each 20lb bag which in my opinion also means pellet strength against crumble, and also means less worries of DUST clogs in Hopper... probably also means less affected by humidity too. Using my OKJoe sifter bucket and 1/3 of a bag at a time...

www.traegerforum.com

 

[Slimpicker]

In case anyone isn't aware (I believe most on here know this already), Traeger doesn't necessarily use 100% wood in their pellets. Here is their patent where it specifies it in the abstract: US Patent 7517371

That was a good read, surprised at how much soy oil plus wood flavor oils are used. Seems the primary wood used in their pellets is alder and oak, hmmm.

 

[Slimpicker]

I updated that TEST you linked to Timmy to include this info.

 

[Timmy]

I updated that TEST you linked to Timmy to include this info.

Cool. The more "like" info that can be put together, the more comprehensive it will be.

 

[Olds442]

so the thought is that it's the oils in the pellets?

have you ever seen this before? @Slimpicker @Timmy

 

[Slimpicker]

so the thought is that it's the oils in the pellets?

Well, go to Lowes, buy a $8 bag of pitboss and prove it otherwise... the inside of your grill isn't ruined... I'll show you pics of mine if you want.. it is PITCH BLACK EVERYWHERE and GLOSSY!!! looks like I painted it!! This is pure smoke buildup.

And YES, there has been guys in here reporting weird initial burn results, but to my knowledge they just kept cooking.