Toxic fumes from Diesel exhaust.

[Seth1968]

I was out this morning doing my pre-dawn stalking, and was about 5 car lengths behind a mid size car with no other cars around. The cabin started to smell of nauseating diesel fumes and became progressively worse until I passed a mid size VW car.

I've had this occur numerous times, but as far as I can tell, the culprit was always a diesel pickup truck. It's particularly WTF'ish when you're trapped in traffic or at light beside a diesel vehicle.

Most of these vehicles are late models so I assume the problem isn't caused by malfunctioning emission control.

So, what's up with this?

[R154]

If it's cold (their engine) , then it is uncombusted diesel.

If a diesel is running well and is warm, it only produces a light odor and heat.

I'm inclined to believe you're just a sensitive individual to Petro chemicals.

I love the smell of most every organic.

[bart]

raw diesel exhaust smells amazing, the treated stuff stinks

[R154]

Also a great deal of diesel owners delete dpf in their late model trucks. So, in a sense, yes the emissions control is malfunctioning. The deletion because it gives them better gas mileage.

With newer tier 4 and tier4+ there are urea injection tech and bigger badder dpf systems that bring a lot of the carbon/waste Products of combustion out. It will be harder for guys to delete these systems and keep warranty.

[Seth1968]

Originally posted by R154
If it's cold (their engine) , then it is uncombusted diesel.

If a diesel is running well and is warm, it only produces a light odor and heat.

I'm inclined to believe you're just a sensitive individual to Petro chemicals.

I love the smell of most every organic.

Nah, it's not necessarily a cold engine, as it occurs in summer as well.

BTW- I love the smell of gas, but I can't seem to find a gas scented air freshener.

[Seth1968]

Originally posted by R154
Also a great deal of diesel owners delete dpf in their late model trucks.

Do you mean they actually remove it? If so, faaack.

[R154]

Yes. Removal of emissions systems is an extremely common modification.

Another one is a tuner, where it will modify the amount of fuel the engine recieves in order to maximize power. In those modes there will be a certain amount of hot unburned diesel in the exhaust.