My 603 smells? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BodhiBenz1987 · #1 07-08-2006, 09:47 AM

This morning I went running with a group of friends and when I drove my 603 into the parking lot to meet them, they all told me to shut off the diesel beacuse it stunk. I realize this is kind of funny, but I honestly don't smell a thing from my car. In the past, nobody has commented on it. A few weeks ago my mother made a similar comment when driving behind me about the diesel fumes.

Do 603s actually smell that bad, or has my car suddenly started stinking for some reason? I never smelled anything before and don't smell it now ... but the fact that people have commented on it on seperate occasions recently leaves me to wonder. Has it smelled like this all along, or does Bo have a new B.O. problem.

Since we're among friends, you can be honest ... do I SMELL?

pmari · #2 07-08-2006, 11:53 AM

Perhaps you have a hole or leak in the exhaust system. Is it smoking when cold on start up or at idle? You could run B20 and change the smell completely.

BodhiBenz1987 · #3 07-08-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmari

Perhaps you have a hole or leak in the exhaust system. Is it smoking when cold on start up or at idle? You could run B20 and change the smell completely.

Sometimes a bit of smoke wafts out on cold starts ... nothing overwhelming (can't see it unless you go around back and stare at the exhaust pipe). When my friends were commenting about the smell, the air behind the car was clear as day, visually. Really the only time any significant smoke comes out is if I don't drive it hard for a while, I get the classic ITU smokepuff when I gun it.

andmoon · #4 07-08-2006, 12:29 PM

The exhaust smell changes w/ fuel source....I swear it does!
The Chevron diesel smells the least.
The cheapie down the street smells the strongest (not the worst).
Put in a bottle of wessen w/ your next fillup...changes the smell to ~BBQ and lube your sender unit.

pmari · #5 07-08-2006, 01:02 PM

I thought your injectors might need an overhaul, doesn't seem so.

The rear muffler has a tendency to rot out (vertical side facing front of car) and leak exhaust. The w124 aerodynamics are such that the air flow actually comes back toward the car. You can see this if you wet down the roof and rear window. The water will climb up the rear window.

So the next question, was the sun roof in tilt position with the windows closed in the car?

andmoon...I agree!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Sometimes a bit of smoke wafts out on cold starts ... nothing overwhelming (can't see it unless you go around back and stare at the exhaust pipe). When my friends were commenting about the smell, the air behind the car was clear as day, visually. Really the only time any significant smoke comes out is if I don't drive it hard for a while, I get the classic ITU smokepuff when I gun it.

BodhiBenz1987 · #6 07-08-2006, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmari

I thought your injectors might need an overhaul, doesn't seem so.

The rear muffler has a tendency to rot out (vertical side facing front of car) and leak exhaust. The w124 aerodynamics are such that the air flow actually comes back toward the car. You can see this if you wet down the roof and rear window. The water will climb up the rear window.

So the next question, was the sun roof in tilt position with the windows closed in the car?

I took a peek underneath the car as best I could ... on the rear muffler, where the pipe enters toward the car's front, there is a little bit of black soot around the connection between joint and muffler ... it's not a huge amount ... does that suggest a leak? What concerns me more is (please excuse any incorrect terminology, as I am not familiar w/ the exhaust system) on the muffler ahead of it, where the pipe fits toward the front, there is a coating of black/grey "goo." The differential is covered with the same goo, it appears. I'm not a real expert on the things that come out of ehxaust pipes, but is there any reason that a dark, tacky substance would be leaking? Or is it more liking some throwback from stuff on the diff?

Other than that, everything looks pretty clean, although my vantage point (squeezed beneath the car and driveway) was not great.

BodhiBenz1987 · #7 07-09-2006, 11:15 AM

Oops ... my description was off ... long day yesterday

. To amend that: the "goo" is on the side of the muffler toward the BACK of the car, nearest to the diff ... so I am assuming it may have flown foward from the diff to the muffler's end? I tried to attach a photo ...

greasybenz · #8 07-09-2006, 11:45 AM

i still think you should add some veggie oil or biodiesel to the mix. Even half a gallon of veggie oil in a full tank of diesel will change the smell completely. One time my frined accidently put half a gallon of chicken fat/wvo in his 300SD and clogged a filter, so we filled up the rest of the tank with ULSD and a little acetone to cut the chicken fat. Surprisingly that small amount of chicken fat made it smell like BBQ. even with 17 1/2 gallons of diesel.

190D22 · #9 07-09-2006, 12:14 PM

Fuel at truck stops has the most distinct exhaust smell. Must be due to freshness and cetane number. I get better performance and mileage on the truck stop fuel. I'd just tell people to "suck it up and breath deep ya pussies!"

pmari · #10 07-09-2006, 12:22 PM

Oh boy! I'd suggest you clean off that rear diff and check the fluid level in there. Looks like you got a pretty good seal leak. The Rear diff's do go on these cars and if you're gear oil is low..... well you get the picture.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BodhiBenz1987

Oops ... my description was off ... long day yesterday

. To amend that: the "goo" is on the side of the muffler toward the BACK of the car, nearest to the diff ... so I am assuming it may have flown foward from the diff to the muffler's end? I tried to attach a photo ...

pawoSD · #11 07-09-2006, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 190D22

Fuel at truck stops has the most distinct exhaust smell. Must be due to freshness and cetane number. I get better performance and mileage on the truck stop fuel. I'd just tell people to "suck it up and breath deep ya pussies!"

Same here! I get 24-26mpg on truck stop fuel at about 77-83mph continuous speed...love it! Plus, its $2.92, while diesel around here in the city is $3.09

BodhiBenz1987 · #12 07-09-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmari

Oh boy! I'd suggest you clean off that rear diff and check the fluid level in there. Looks like you got a pretty good seal leak. The Rear diff's do go on these cars and if you're gear oil is low..... well you get the picture.

Yeah, I was kind of shocked to see it that messy ... I have to admit it wasn't something I thought to check before. Is it possible to clean/check without lifting the car? If it's too much for me to accomplish with my limited knowledge and resources, I could ask my mechanic to take a look at it Tuesday ... have to take the car in to him to get the drivers window fixed anyway.

pmari · #13 07-09-2006, 07:32 PM

A pair of ramps works great. You need the room to get under there. Diesel Giant has a "How To" on his web site. You may want to bring it in, souldn't be more than 1/2 hour charge to find out (depending on your indy).

Hatterasguy · #14 07-09-2006, 08:00 PM

Thats a pretty wicked leak, it may be the diff or something dripping back. Have to add any trans fluid lately? Maybe engine oil? That leak is probably adding to the smell, when the exhuast heats up it burns off.

These cars do smell a bit at idle, nature of the beast.

Targa-NF · #15 07-09-2006, 08:09 PM

I had a few friends of mine said " My car stinks like diesel smoke." I don't smell
it anymore, becaues I am used to it. I am a smoker and I don't smell smoke off
myself, but non-smokers can. So non-diesel drivers are more senitive to the
smell then all of us. Smell you later, or not.... Jay