Does Your Delica Smell?

[The Pinkfingers]

We've driven our Delica for a few days now and are new to diesel engines.

It was completely tuned up by Japanoid before we bought it, including all new belts and fluids. That being said, we notice when we turn off the engine and get out that there is a definite "engine smell" - sort of heat mixed with a faint trace of burnt rubber. Is this normal, or should we contact Japanoid?

Things in a diesel engine seem to be a bit "looser" than a gas engine, so that takes some getting used to. What I really need is a long time Delica owner to go driving with me so that I can ask, "What's that rattle?... And that sound?... Do I have a rock in my pan somewhere?" Volunteer passengers are welcome.

[jessef]

Pinkfingers.

Give me a call.

I'll go over it with you.

Sent you a PM

Jesse

[delicat]

Pinkfinger,

From what I've seen when I saw your van is that the underbody of your van had been painted, including the muffler. I wouldn't be surprised that what you're smelling is the paint burning off... As to why they would paint the muffler and pipes that I have no idea.

And no idea neither as to how to get rid of the smell.

Enjoy the ride!
David

[mararmeisto]

...[t]hings in a diesel engine seem to be a bit "looser" than a gas engine, so that takes some getting used to. What I really need is a long time Delica owner to go driving with me so that I can ask, "What's that rattle?... And that sound?... Do I have a rock in my pan somewhere?" Volunteer passengers are welcome.

First thing to remember about these diesel engines is they are relatively large 4 cylinder engines - pistons that big flying back and forth will generate quite a bit of movement, especially at idle and when cold.

Second, rpms in a diesel are generally much lower than in a gasoline engine. I don't remember the description of what is going on, but it is a principle akin to audio frequencies: you tend to 'feel' low frequencies, like bass, much more than higher frequencies. There is a name for that sensation, but I can't remember it.

As for the 'smell', if you're engine/exhaust was painted, that is probably what you're smelling. My Delica stinks sometimes too (when I give it a bit too much fuel), but it never smells (a little English grammar humour)!

[coaxial]

I remember getting my first diesel and thinking it was surely ruined based on the rattling & knocking noises coming from the engine.
Nope turns out it was just an old diesel, drove it 200,000 after that, still running like a top when I sold it :)

[dmg]

I cannot comment on the smell but we recently had our motor mounts and transmission mounts replaced and the truck is now as smooth as our 2004 (gas) toyota.

The original motor mounts were a little worn and one transmission mount had just the beginnings of a tear in the rubber ring. The new mounts made an amazing difference.

Mardy sourced the parts for us and CVI did the heavy work.

[glenn]

We sometimes call it the smellica. Yes, ours does smell a little "truckish" It's subtle, not old car stink, and I think it is normal. In fact, if I'm feeling a little depressed, I just have to go out to my van and have a smell, all kinds of endorphins are released and I'm left with an overwhelming sense of well being.


Seriously, I've noticed it in every delica I have driven (3), although I actually don't really notice it anymore.

[marsgal42]

Gumdrop smelled funny the first time I did a steep hill, steep enough to burn accumulated crud off the turbocharger and exhaust manifold. And, of course, the fake new car smell.

She's been fine ever since. An occasional whiff of that hot metal smell after long runs.

...laura

[toddtomorrow]

My Delica smells like the last owners cigarette habit. Getting it detailed Monday though. I had a rattle as well but it turned out to be just worn sway bar bushings.

todd

[mararmeisto]

My Delica smells like the last owners cigarette habit. Getting it detailed Monday though. I had a rattle as well but it turned out to be just worn sway bar bushings.

todd

Oj ve! Cigarettes? Moon Machine didn't stick too bad from that, but we know it had been a smoker's van when we washed the curtains - the water turned that sickly brown color of nicotine. I've heard of some vans with butts still in the ashtray when they on our shores... yech!

[konadog]

I suppose we were lucky as Hazel didn't smell too tobacco-ie though I did find the faintest few flakes of ash in the ashtray, but even at that the plastic inside the tray looks new, really I think the worst smell issue is raw diesel fuel. As Falco pointed out in another post, diesel pumps have a habit of back-splashing when full if the filler isn't on the ball. Not only does this leave the pump covered in stinky oil, but there is inevitably a puddle of oil on the ground under the pump - track the stuff into your bus and it'll reek for days! I have a pair of gloves I keep handy for fueling up and am careful to avoid stepping in diesel and am always attentive when using the pump to avoid the dreaded back-spash

[delica 304]

Mine smelled of cigarettes when I first bought it, but a little Prosolve, some elbow grease and a shop vac went a long way to getting the gunk out. Here's an after and before picture,



You can see the tobacco stains in the corner. I got a bit excited at how well the Prosolve was working and didn't think of taking a pic until I was almost finished.

[toddtomorrow]

where did you get the prosolve?

t

[delica 304]

You can pick up Prosolve at just about any grocery store, it's a carpet cleaner (cleaning gear isle). It comes in a red spray bottle. For scrubbing I used the softest bristle brush I could find, a pink pet brush by Hart's

[JMK]

The problem with cigarette smoke is it gets into all your vent ducting, fixtures and nooks and crannies you cannot get at with a spray bottle and shop vac. The problem with some of these cleaning agents is they can be just as toxic as the smoke residue. You neeed to neutralize the residues left behind by the smoke to protect your health, not just mask them. The best solution is to do something along the same lines as the professional shops. Here is what we did with a BMW we got that almost made me puke the smell was so bad. When we finished there was not a trace of smoke smell, even months later when it would sit in the hot sun with windows closed:


1: Borrow a negative Ion generator and run it in the van for a day. The reason for this is due to not only what the negative ions do, but more importantly, the Ozone that they all generate. Professional shops use Ozone generators. THen put a charger or 12V power supply on your system and run your fans on low to move the ozone through the ducts for as many hours as you can.

2: Next find someone with one of those fountains that make a mist. The mist makers are metal pucks with ceramic discs in them that vibrate ultrasonically and refract the water. Borrow this part from them and then get some peppermint essential oil from the local health food store. Do not get spearmint, etc., because you want the carvones that are present in the peppermint to break down and neutralize the tar residue as much as possible. Place the mist maker in a bowl with about 2 litres of water and 20ml of peppermint oil and run it near the vent intakes with the system on the 'recirculate' setting, again with the fan on low. Go through a couple of bowls and replace the essential oil as necessary. Then do it again on the back seat of the vehicle so the mist can penetrate the seats, headliner, etc. If you can't borrow one, any garden center that sells fountains will have them for about $30.00 and up.




You can also use an ultrasonic humidifier for step #2, but if it has a clear plastic resevoir tank (as most do), the EO will eat the plastic and it will crack, ruining your humidifier.

This is the only real way you can neutralize the cigarette smoke in your vehicle. It may be a hassle, and the Prosolve will still be required to clean your headliner, etc., but if you care about your health it is worth the effort.