Who out there loves the smell of diesel in the morning. Everyone, I'm sure. But as a diesel newbie, I had some questions. One, how heck do diesel engines work? I don't understand how combustion takes place or why they make so much sweet noise. Also, what color is the exhaust supposed to be and when should it be present. What do the different colors mean? Finally, does anyone have problems walking away from their cars? I know I do. I can't stop looking at the W115 lines and am always searching for that speck of dirt or to see if the star is just a little crooked. This car is becoming an obsession. I stopped listening to the radio, just so I could listen to the engine purr. Am I sick? Is there something wrong with me?

I somehow love the smell of diesel exhaust, there is something about that smell that I like. I can't stand the smell of exhaust from a gasoline engine, there is something in it that seems to make me sick. Am I crazy, or going crazy for the love of diesel exhaust.

I don't have a problem of walking away from my car, because I hate looking at the faded paint on the trunk and hood, but I hate walking away from nice looking grill and hoodstar.

If you know how a g@$ engine works, you're most of the way there. On the intake stroke, air alone is sucked in, instead of air and g@$ mixed in. The compression stroke goes the same, but at the top of the compression stroke, instead of an electric spark, a fine mist of diesel fuel is injected into the cylinder at relatively high pressure. The air has been compressed enough (around 20:1, as opposed ot 8:1 that g@$$ers do) to be hot enough that the diesel fuel ignites as soon as it hits the air. This expands the air to push the piston down. Essentially, it runs like a g@$$er that's detonating; that's why if a g@$$er runs after the key's switched off it's called "dieseling" (if you listen to it, it even kinda sounds like a diesel). BTW, glow plugs serve to heat up the combustion chamber on a cold start-up because otherwise, the air doesn't get hot enough at first to properly ignite the diesel fuel.

For the most part, the exhaust should be clear. You should get a small black puff on start-up, and will smoke black some (not quite enough to kill mosquitoes) on hard throttle, but shouldn't really be getting anything otherwise. White smoke can mean steam (coolant leak, such as a head gasket or a crack in the head) or not enough fuel. Black smoke means too much fuel (that's why you get black smoke on hard acceleration; it's dumping in more fuel than can be burned). Blue smoke means you're burning oil.

And to answer your first question, I love the smell of diesel in the morning!!

__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

Seems to me that if you smell diesel fumes from your car - you have a fuel leak somewhere. This is part of the negative impression my friends have of diesels - that they "stink". They certainly do if they have a leak somewhere. And a lot of people let the fuel system maintenance go enough for there to be some leakage.

Typically the injector return hoses. Just damp is enough for that diesel "whiff" in the morning.

Now of course, the filling station is where I get my enjoyment of diesel fumes. Can't avoid it there. And some always gets on my hands too, for a lasting aftershave type aroma.....



Ken300D

I like the odor of diesel exhaust to a point. Too much does indicate a problem that needs to be fixed. One thing missed for exhaust is a thick white smoke upon startup, followed by the aforementioned strong raw fuel odor. Indications are a leaking injector, or cold cylinder not firing from low compression. I'm dealing with this issue now. Mine is also accompanied by a noticeable injector knock after warmup. I just poured almost a gallon of Power Service additive in my tank this mornig when I refueled. Hopefully it'll fix the problem.

I of course was talking about when I am at the fueling station, not in the car. In the car it smells like a 27 year old Mercedes :p

Volkl42
Your killing me here.... yes your undoubtedly obsessed. As are most of us who read this forum on a regular basis.

But I busted when you said you stopped listening to the radio to listen to your engine!
Ha! I thought I was only sick one.
Trying to convice myself to go to confession.

Actually...on a serious note. I listen to my engine on a regular basis because I swear I have "pre-ingnition" going on but I am the only one who can hear it. I took car to MB shop and owner drove the car he said I was nuts, car ran like a striped ape!?

I love it when I spill diesel all over myself when I am filling my car and I smell like it all day. It's sort of like my new cologne that I like to wear all the time, I think it drives the ladies wild. I should start bottleing this stuff, but what to call it.

The ladies love the diesel smell! "You are a big hearty man driving a rough and tumble machine! You smell like commercial trucks or public transportation or maybe even large fishing vessel! That is such a turn on.... "


The ladies hate my car. Especially at high school. They like it until its running and they realize its a diesel. "Smelly, eww" They dont seem to complain about the vibration as much though...hmmm....

*Tim Allen grunt*

__________________
2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I could not help but join in on this one, as just tonight before I came in the house, I left my 300SD running, then started the '80 then the '82 (just to let them warm up! Ha!) I couldnt help but enjoy the; 1) pure symphony of three diesels purring (clattering)
2) the smell of the exhaust.

Just commit me now! I feel that it is highly addictive!

Robert Frick

While the light aroma of pure diesel fuel is certainly attractive to the ladies, maybe a fuel additive would work better?

Power Service?



Ken300D

The diesel "clatter" is from the following....

The idle noises are the sounds from the mechanical injection pump. The lobes of the pump cam click the tappets in the pump which causees the noise. The pressures transmit the clatter to the nozzles which magnify the sound.

__________________
Regards,
Aaron

I hate the smell of car exhaust. But lawn mower exhaust is fine. Along with fresh gas, I like that smell. Diesel fuel smells good too, when I get it on my hands I constantly am sniffing them lol. The exhaust is fine too, I can smell diesel exhaust from a car or truck pretty far away and I look around and listen for 'the' sound! I am used to the smell of diesel exhaust, even though I don't smell it in the car (unless I've got the windows down and the wind is blowing).

__________________
1984 190D 2.2 Auto 220k
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 70K
2004 Lexus RX-330 ??K
2005 Chrylser Crossfire LTD 6K

Play guitar? Go to www.cyberfret.com for free online lessons!

I can't say that I like the smell of the fuel itself as much as I like the smell of the exh of a well warmed up healthy running diesel.

It has that certain Joe cant say what, its just perfect as the aroma wafts in the air and then there is the dissipation of the fumes and the forelorn impulse to run behind the vehicle just to get another whiff.

During re-fueling process however I like to stand up wind a ways so that I dont get that smell, and I hate the puddles on the ground and the dripping pumps that some stations have and then you track it into the car yuk. Lets not forget the babes who just go nuts when the hear the diesel and feel the torque and catch the aroma. As that cookie sezs OOOHH soooo GOOOD!