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

[Olds442]

I've read the FAQ thread and the part regarding the break in process. I recently picked up a Pro 575 and assembled it today and did the initial burn in with traeger pellets from ACE.

There was a chemically smell as stated in the burn in FAQs, but it was rather severe and i noticed a blue haze of a greasy like residue after it cooled down, relatively thick in places. I did a complete tear down and cleaned the inside with a rag and warm water, wiping everything clean. Cooking on the grates with that muck on them would have been a disaster. I did not see anything there prior to burn in, it was black and clean.

the two stripes are where i swiped it with my fingers, felt greasy.

everywhere the smoke exited, it's heavier, around the lid, by the exhaust, etc.

Yes I removed the little yellow cap on the temp sensor prior to operation. I expected a bit of a burn smell but it was pretty rough. Like I posted earlier, I cleaned the entire innards, removing the bottom heat shield and cleaning everything i could get to. I'm doing another "burn in" now to see if it happens again.

I appreciate any thoughts or comments, thanks for reading.

I just finished the second burn in, same thing, covered in light blue goo.

 

[Slimpicker]

I just finished the second burn in, same thing, covered in light blue goo.

Did you have the same smell the 2nd time?? Water won't work on grease, you have to use a grill cleaner and remove the factory oil film... then do another burn

 

[Olds442]

i didn't hang out by it during round 2 as it's freezing out there.

and i don't know that it was grease. it felt greasy yes, but it did come clean off with a hot water rag. the rag was clean and yellow before the clean up, and dirtied up during the clean up. so i'm fairly sure it was as clean as new, as it appeared to be prior to the second run.

thank you for your reply, i appreciate it. i was hoping it was something simple and probably stupid that i overlooked etc.

at this point i plan on calling the store i purchased from to get a replacement. they're top notch (shameless plug for ABT Electronics in Glenview Illinois) and have always taken great care of us on whatever we purchase from them.

 

[Timmy]

What pellets are you using?

 

[Olds442]

What pellets are you using?

Traeger Signature All Natural Cherry/Hickory/Maple Hardwood Pellets 20 lb - Ace Hardware

The flavors of hickory, maple and cherry hardwoods combine for a blend that can take on just about anything you cook. From classic BBQ meats, to fish and veggies, this versatile blend gives you full-bodied flavor you’ll go back to time and time again.Find the PELLETS SGNTURE BLND 20# at Ace.

www.acehardware.com

bought a fresh bag of those today from my local ACE.

 

[Timmy]

Man that is weird, if the company you bought it from will help you out. Might be the best thing to return it.
When I did the burn in on my 780, I didn't get anything like that, just ash.

 

[Slimpicker]

(shameless plug for ABT Electronics in Glenview Illinois)

I bought mine from ABT also!!!, free deliver to STL

 

[Olds442]

Man that is weird, if the company you bought it from will help you out. Might be the best thing to return it.
When I did the burn in on my 780, I didn't get anything like that, just ash.

i expected some odd smells and whatnot, but i also saw people saying that the break in didn't smell bat at all. youtubers...

but yeah, this was pretty radical. Abt kicks axx and i have a relatively extensive buying history with them, so i know they'll come through. i'll take the legs off this one and bring it back and grab another new one in a box. shxt happens, i'm not sore about it. of course i wouldn't say that if i didn't live close to them.

 

[Olds442]

I bought mine from ABT also!!!, free deliver to STL

i want to empty my wallet every time i step in there.

when a good thing, is a really bad thing.

 

[Slimpicker]

if you plan on using a Traeger, you're gonna need a good cleaner anyway... Traeger sells one, or get Simple Green BBQ ... I say TRY IT before you send this one back... You got absolutely nothing to lose to clean it first and then fire it up one last time...

 

[Timmy]

BTW.... Olds 442s rock!

 

[Olds442]

@Slimpicker i have a couple BBQ cleaners, i restored vintage webers over the years out of nostalgia. i'm happy to clean it out again and re-try but i don't think i'd ever feel good about eating off of this thing. there's a lot of goo on round two, and i feel that it was clean prior to running it again.

ABT can RTV this unit, and nobody eats PCB's. traeger doesn't lose a sale and i get to break in a new 575, again.

everybody wins. including an extra set of neighborhood kids that get to play in their new cardboard traeger fortress.

@Timmy yes they do! and Stage 1 Buicks aren't half bad.

 

[Slimpicker]

BTW.... Olds 442s rock!

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

 

[Olds442]

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

i'd have killed myself in it.


at 19 i was in a Gremlin X, aka, rolling birth control.

i didn't get a real hot rod until a few years later.

 

[Slimpicker]

@Slimpicker i have a couple BBQ cleaners, i restored vintage webers over the years out of nostalgia.

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!!!!