New to diesel ownership but grew up on a farm. I love the smell of diesel !!! My new 05 now with 4k miles smells putrid in the morning with start-up. Is this an indicator of something gone wrong or not working properly? Not working it hard enough ? Smells bad ! Sharp almost like an electrical fire with a harsh chemical smell added in.

Just curious as everything is running fine.

 

You can thank the EPA w/ their low sulfer fuels for that smell.

 

probably the cats, old diesels smell the same even with low sulfur

 

Yep, it's the cat.

 

Yep its the CAT. I wish I had the old diesel smell too

 

The "old smell" made me sick to my stomach. So does jet exhaust at the airport. but the 'new smell' on my truck does not. Don't know why on either one.

 

Do you have used Rotella synthetic oil? It stinks bad.

 

It's the kitty they put on the 05's. Mine stinks too, only more like sulfur or rotten egg. Go figure, low sulfur fuel and a kitty will give you sulfur smell and high sulfer fuel without a cat doesn't smell like burning sulfer.

 

This has been on various forums - lots of posters
say it's the Rotella and switch to Delo 400 at next
oil change.
Worth a try. (I plan to do that).

If it is the cat - wonder if an additive might change
the taste of the fuel for the Kitty? And help his bad breath.
[Both of the above are cheap and easy to try]

Do you need to worry about any "inspections" where you are?
There are "Cat Test Pipes" out there to replace the Cat.

Think you might try a "test" without it -
you would know for sure if it's the cat then.
More time and expense - but could turn into a long-term "test"!

Think this would be a good subject for a new thread to see
if anybody who has replaced the Cat - got rid of the smell.
JC

 

Are you by any chance buying your fuel at Walmart (Murphy's)? Their fuel stinks like no one else's. But also, it's about 10 cents a gallon cheaper than anyone else's also. They sure sell a lot of it here in the Texas Panhandle.

 

i am the exact oppiset of you i guess then... and gasoline fuel and gasoline engine exhaust make me sick to my stomach.

 

I nudered my cat, smells like a diesel now, not a propane. Sounds better to without it.