Diesel Pushers, Do The New Ones Smell?

[ron_dittmer]

My brother's wife has asthma which is triggered by the smell of diesel exhaust. She does fine near the small Sprinter diesel based motor homes, the newer ones that have the current-day catalytic converter type thing for the exhaust.

Do the latest diesel pushers have the same pollution control devises to eliminate the smell that triggers my sis-in-law's asthma? My wife and I also have trouble with diesel fumes, but not to that degree.

[ron_dittmer]

Thanks all for the enlightenment.

OP Ron

[JimM68]

Regardless...

2010 and newer diesel rigs are very clean burning, as are 2010 and newer big trucks.

You don't run the motor in a campground anyway, and going down the road, it's all "way back there..."

The genny is another story though. we do run that in the campground, and our onan is kinda stinky, and does indeed leave a black spot on the ground under the exhaust pipe.

[holstein13]

JumboJet wrote:

About the particulate filters (DPF) - during needed cycles, additional fuel is sent into the exhaust stream to "clean" the DPF. In other words, for a few minutes/miles, the diesel soot particles are emitted into the atmosphere. You can never completely burn up a solid. Maybe break up the particles into smaller particles and burn any gases out that may be present. Solids will always remain solids.

And this is the reason you should not rely on forums for your scientific facts. I've rarely heard such a ridiculous claim in my life.

No, solids will NOT always remain solids. They can be turned into liquids, gels, and gases -- even plasma. Ice can be turned into water which could be turned into water vapor. Furthermore, it can be broken into hydrogen and oxygen with twice as much Hydrogen as Oxygen produced (H2O) and it will forever remain a gas.

Likewise, carbon, the chief component of hydrocarbons (aka fuel) can also be turned into carbon dioxide which is certainly a gas and will remain a gas until some plant extracts it and turns it back into a hydrocarbon using the suns energy and photosynthesis.

So don't believe me and certainly don't believe the blather you read on the web. Fuel and solids can be turned into gasses. But that doesn't mean it's good or bad.

[JumboJet]

ron.dittmer wrote:
Skip,

You did good.

I really didn't mean to get into the technical/scientific/medical aspect of it. I should have asked....

Are the newer diesel pushers equipped with the same anti-pollutant devises as current-day small diesel powered vehicles? Or do they fall into the "other" category with tractor trailer trucks where the devises are still lacking?....they are lacking on the new big rigs, right?

All the newer tractor trailer trucks have the cleaner exhaust technology. They use DEF and also have particulate filters.

About the particulate filters (DPF) - during needed cycles, additional fuel is sent into the exhaust stream to "clean" the DPF. In other words, for a few minutes/miles, the diesel soot particles are emitted into the atmosphere. You can never completely burn up a solid. Maybe break up the particles into smaller particles and burn any gases out that may be present. Solids will always remain solids.

[ron_dittmer]

Skip,

You did good.

I really didn't mean to get into the technical/scientific/medical aspect of it. I should have asked....

Are the newer diesel pushers equipped with the same anti-pollutant devises as current-day small diesel powered vehicles? Or do they fall into the "other" category with tractor trailer trucks where the devises are still lacking?....they are lacking on the new big rigs, right?

[Kaz]

ron.dittmer wrote:
My brother's wife has asthma which is triggered by the smell of diesel exhaust. She does fine near the small Sprinter diesel based motor homes, the newer ones that have the current-day catalytic converter type thing for the exhaust.

Do the latest diesel pushers have the same pollution control devises to eliminate the smell that triggers my sis-in-law's asthma? My wife and I also have trouble with diesel fumes, but not to that degree.

I think the answer is pretty complicated. Diesel exhaust contains lots of different substances. The typical smell that people associate with diesel exhaust was usually associated with sulfur compounds and is greatly reduced by low-sulfur fuels (now mandatory for all on-road engines) and modern engine emission control technologies. Another significant component, though, as mentioned above, is "diesel particulate matter." That's not a smell issue, but might present two issues. The first is that the PM is quite small, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs (unlike "smoke," which is made up mostly of big particles). Second, various organic compounds (like aldehydes and aromatics) can adhere to the PM and are strong irritants. I'd wonder if your SIL's reaction might seem to be triggered by the smell (because that's what one can detect), but is actually triggered by some other component.

I agree that modern DPs are better on all counts, although it still seems like I sometimes get a jolt of some eye-watering, throat-closing diesel-something at campgrounds, especially when the guy next door decides to idle his motorhome endlessly prior to departure. Maybe those are old units, or maybe I'm just getting cranky in my old age.

I don't know about asthma triggers (I'm sure you know way more than you want to), but it seems like it varies greatly from person to person. I have a friend whose asthma can even be triggered by a sudden deep breath of cold air! I do believe that particulate matter (even relatively large particulates like pollen) and organic chemicals (especially irritating chemicals) are frequently associated with triggers. Since both are present in diesel exhaust, your question is a good one. I tried to google the issue, but came up empty. Most of the references seem to address either low level, urban atmospheric concentrations of DPM, or high-level, long-term occupational exposures. I couldn't find anything that would be useful to your question. Maybe somebody else will find something.

So, how's that for a long and particularly unhelpful response?

Skip

[paulsang]

wa8yxm wrote:
Your question is poorly worded.. Smell is what the nose does. Stink is what the Diesels (Well some of them) do.

And the answer is way too complex... Some do, Some do not, it depends on how finely the engine is tuned and what fuel you are burning and how well it is maintained.

But if Diesel aroma bothers here... Play safe.. Get a Gasser Just watch the towing and cargo ratings.. For example one model I know of can haul 900 pounds of cargo (not much) and tow only 4K.

Just wow. I don't believe the question was poorly worded at all. I understood it quite well.

Smells DO trigger asthma attack in sensitive people. It was a legitimate question, and a welcome one. I am interested in seeing what others have to say on the OP's post because of the issue they have.

[Dave___Ginny]

There are people with very sensitive noses and unfortunately my wife is one of them. She can't smell our diesel coach at all even when it's idling at the camp ground.

[YC_1]

If parked and running the generator a Genturi works well to move the exhaust away,.

[ron_dittmer]

Yes I did wonder about the generator, thinking some might be setup with propane instead. It only makes sense to have a diesel generator.... unfortunately with concern over the fumes.

Since all of us in the family most exclusively camp in national parks & remote areas, we almost never have DP neighbors. Just wondering if my brother purchased a Tiffin Breeze-28 for retirement, what could be expected.

Thanks!

[rolling_rhoda]

Be cautious of the generator, as another poster mentioned. Many diesel pushers have diesel gennys up front. When running, their exhaust can be noticed outside, so you'll want the windows shut.

[ron_dittmer]

We Cant Wait wrote:
Main question is - Is it the diesel fumes that sets her off OR the SMELL of the diesel fumes???

OP here.

My question is in regards to the fumes/pollution coming out the diesel engine exhaust pipe which makes that familiar smell. I don't smell the fumes on the newest smaller diesels and so it does not bother me or my wife. I also believe they don't trigger my sis-in-law's asthma.

[holstein13]

My engine is so efficient and clean that I've heard that in many cities, the air coming out of the exhaust is cleaner than the air going into the engine. It's a near zero emission vehicle. I wish I could back up that statement with a great authoritative link but I couldn't find one. In the meantime, click here for some insights.

[Bill_Satellite]

The straight answer to the somewhat vague question is yes, diesel coaches smell like diesel coaches. They smell less than they used to but the odor is quite distinct and recognizable as diesel exhaust. I also find propane and gasoline to have distinct smells but I doubt it's the smell that triggers and asthmatic response but more likely that particulate matter in diesel exhaust which has been dramatically reduced in recent years.