Why do IDI diesels stink so bad?

[joesoot]

Something i've noticed recently when shortly behind a 6. 5 or 6. 2 or 7. 3... . their exhaust is eye watering, raw kerosene mixed with eggs and windprood matches... #ad


No Cummins or PSD i've set next to in traffic ever smelled like that.

Do these engines burn fuel so poorly, do they use windproof matches in conjunction with glow plugs?

 

[JoeyD]

I would say they all smell the same. I do some generator testing and have to run them twice a week for a hour and one's a cummins and ones a cat and even they smell the same. Smells good.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

Joe soot

Were did you get that puking guy on the post!



Jim

 

[Matt S]

I've noticed the same thing but have always chalked it up to the combustion process differences between direct injection and indirect injection. I've also noticed that they sound different and smell different between manufacturers.

 

[Benson]

I think a lot of it is because these are all older units and people don't keep them in top running shape. A neglected air filter can get plugged up and ruin the air to fuel ratio. They need to let more air in or readjust their fuel pumps for less fuel delivery.

 

[WOWZY]

The best smell comes from a Dump Truck with a Detroit 2 stroke under the hood.



The worst is when I flutter the sheets at night for the ol' lady with my own exhaust. A mixture of Beans and Dave's Insanity Sauce is walking a thin line to Spontaneus Human Combustion.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

AT my last job we had a 95' dodge dually. That thing smelled worse than anything when it first started up when it was cold. I distinctly remember hating the smell. I am told this was because of the catalytic converter as i have never smelled that smell on my first gen.

 

[illflem]

I personally don't like the smell of #1 diesel blend and find the exhaust very irritating to my eyes and throat. I use straight #2 with additive in the winter partly for this reason. It isn't so bad when you're in the cab, but if you get out in the open on a diesel tractor #1 can be a killer.

 

[roadranger]

Diesel Stink

Old Macks with 237 Maxidynes starting up stone cold would smoke and stink BAD with an acrid smell and make your eyes run...



Back in the 50's-60's, Detroit Diesel powered coaches were set up to run on #1 (or Kerosine), and that combined with the 2 stroke made them stink with a sweet sickly smell all the time.

Ever get stuck behind one of these stink pots?



Seems diesel engines can be told apart not only by sound, but by smell too!

 

[americana]

sounds like bidiesel to the rescue!!!! (insert trumpet fanfare here)

 

[joesoot]

Originally posted by americana

sounds like bidiesel to the rescue!!!! (insert trumpet fanfare here)

In a Homer Simpson voice: MMMMM, french fries.

 

[joesoot]

Re: Joe soot

Originally posted by JFulmer

Were did you get that puking guy on the post!



Jim

http://mysmilies.com/

 

[americana]

joesoot... . great link!! you sound like one funny s. o. b. if you ever drive, fly, hike through the san fran area drop me a line. the beer's on me.

 

[Cummnzpowr]

Hey Americana:

Where in S. F. are you at man?--we have a marin/S. F. /Sonoma County diesel club, if you're interested in hanging out, you're more than welcome man... e-mail me at "Cummnzpowr@aol.com"

 

[americana]

thanks cummnzpwr,



i used to live in the outer sunset (3 blocks from the beach) then i got engaged and bought a house in the 'burbs. i guess it happens to the best of us. that was a couple of months ago and just haven't changed my profile yet. besides... most people know where san francisco is as opposed to those across this great land who have never heard of san carlos.



i think i'd better go to a ramrunners meeting in san jose first or i won't need my truck to get to sonoma. you see i've promised HVAC to go to a meeting down there (san jose) for about a year and if i go to sonoma first i'm sure he will kick my a$$ all the way up to sonoma for free!!

 

[EOliver]

I have a question ... why does the Powersmoke smell so much different than the Cummins. Anytime in traffic I can smell a Powerjoke (smells weird), the Cummins smells like the John Deere tractors I grew up around. (like a diesel is supposed to smell)

 

[Wirenut]

I was wondering if anyone else noticed these smells. I would always impress my friends by sticking my nose in the air and saying "I betcha 10 bucks when we get around this curve we get behind a Ford diesel. " Our 6. 5 smells like plastic burning I think. I also think that even the new PSD's have that type of smell. Noithin like a cummins... smells like a piece of heavy equipment runnin next to you on the jobsite! I love it. I hate those plastic burners though, I still say those V-8 jobs arent even real diesels (even though we got one!)