Just because our long-term Jetta TDI now burns biodiesel doesn't mean it smells like a bouquet of flowers. When exiting the Jetta TDI last night I couldn't help but notice an odd aroma. To double check, I left the car running this morning and walked around to the back, getting in two long whiffs of the Jetta's butt. Sure enough, there was the smell -- it's pungent, chemical and probably a quick way to hurl if you stay there too long.
Therefore, I wouldn't recommend sniffing the heiny of your biodiesel Jetta. Consider this a public service.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 66,067 miles
vacagrande says:
10:45 AM, 02/ 3/09
Try a tank made from used fryer oil, you'll just smell tacos.
stingray454 says:
11:10 AM, 02/ 3/09
I've heard waste vegetable oil burned in a diesel smells like when you put cooking oil on a hot fry pan and it smokes. Not a pleasant smell either.
firstwagon says:
12:37 PM, 02/ 3/09
I agree with stingray, I have a friend who runs veggie oil in his old Nissan diesel pick up. I find the smell to be rather sickening. Worse then regular diesel.
It's not a simple as everyone thinks either.
Leave some used veggie oil out and you'll notice it's congeals into a solid. Not exactly a useful form.
He starts his truck on regular diesel while the veggie stuff is being preheated. Then he can switch over and run on the free stuff. Before he shuts it down, he has to switch back to diesel to flush out the lines. Otherwise the veggie oil will congeal in the lines and it won't restart.
Once you have the system worked out, it works well in old simple diesels. I'm not sure I would want to try it modern, very expensive clean diesel.
It's also getting a lot harder to find the stuff for free.
cwc1 says:
06:20 PM, 02/ 3/09
I've not smelled a diesel running on WVO before, and it sounds odd that they could smell like fried food. And I've gotten used to the smell of petro diesel, so don't find it that bad - I guess having a diesel turns one into a diesel head.
But is biodiesel even stronger?
clarkma5 says:
06:43 PM, 02/ 3/09
Generally not a great idea to sniff your tailpipe at all, regardless of what you drive. Hydrogen cars may be the exception to that.
cwc1 says:
07:08 PM, 02/ 3/09
Too much inhalation of exhaust - not good. But if hydrogen power becomes viable one day, it'll only be a matter of time before we hear something like this:
"Studies and computer models have shown that all the excess water from tailpipe emissions is contributing to climate change, and also causes cancer, although we don't know how yet. Further studies are recommended, but we need more government funding..." Puhleez...
janespears says:
08:52 AM, 05/26/09
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