Diesel exhaust odor

But as some of the other posts mentioned, several factors affect diesel combustion and the exhaust smell--fuel quality and type, compression ratio, injector timing, injector condition--especially the atomizer tips, fuel pump timing, piston blow-by, valve seating conditions, air inlet filter condition and type of oil. I've noticed that two identical tractors and condition--one using Rotella and the other, say Delo, will smell differently. Since a little oil gets burned with diesels, that enters into the mix too. This is more noticeable right after changing the oil--it becomes less and less noticeable after the engines get a few hours on the oil change.

Interesting thread you have going here.

I can tell you the differece between a F or a Bb note, but all diesels smell the same to me. Same with the gassers; they all smell the same.

Different strokes, different folks, I guess.

Allan

I think some of the other guys have hit it, it has to do with the way the engine burns the diesel.

And for anyone who thinks they all smell the same, take a wiff of a powerstroke diesel when it first starts and compair it to a Dodge cummins starting, compleatly different oders from the exhaust.....

Great question....

What are you a wine taster or some thing. Boy you sure got a sensitive nose. I am lucky if I could even tell if the engine is running with out hearing or seeing it. I know some can tell if it is low or high sulpher by the smell but I can not. Just smells like diesel to me.

Some old-timers can tune diesels and even gas engines by smell. I've seen them do it. My smeller ain't what it used to be but when I was a kid I could rough tune a gas engine with my nose.