[sumeethaldankar]

My 6 month old Verna is my first diesel car. I never owned or driven a diesel car before but from day one since I bought this car I am facing a peculiar problem. Whenever I smell the exhaust, this typically happens when I lower a window or open a door to get out or let a passenger I end up with a mild headache. I thought this will go away after some time but so far it has not and I am even considering selling it off just to stop the headaches.

How do you guys deal with the diesel exhaust smell or does it even bother you? Is there any work around to the issue I have? Point to note is the smell is apparent in confined spaces like parking lots etc. When I had briefly test driven the diesel car it was not very apparent but the day I bought the car it become evident the car is going to give a headache especially when one has to idle the turbo. Should I sell the car or keep it with the headaches?

Note to mods:- Kindly merge if a similar topic exists.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

My 6 month old Verna is my first diesel car. I never owned or driven a diesel car before but from day one since I bought this car I am facing a peculiar problem. Whenever I smell the exhaust, this typically happens when I lower a window or open a door to get out or let a passenger I end up with a mild headache. I thought this will go away after some time but so far it has not and I am even considering selling it off just to stop the headaches.

How do you guys deal with the diesel exhaust smell or does it even bother you? Is there any work around to the issue I have? Point to note is the smell is apparent in confined spaces like parking lots etc. When I had briefly test driven the diesel car it was not very apparent but the day I bought the car it become evident the car is going to give a headache especially when one has to idle the turbo. Should I sell the car or keep it with the headaches?

Note to mods:- Kindly merge if a similar topic exists.

Well., to begin with, you can avoid leaving the car in idle in confined spaces. It is not good on a petrol engine car either.

I am surprised that you get the smell in a short time of opening a door or opening a window because on these new age diesels, unless you go poke your nose behind, you wouldn't get the exhaust smell. On my diesel car, which is my first too, I get the smell of diesel exhaust only if I leave the door open on a cold start. Once the engine is warmed up, I haven't noticed the smell anywhere around the car.

Maybe you can check for an exhaust leak which again is unlikely on a new car.

[locusjag]

I have noticed the exhaust smell from my Mahindra TUV 300 too in our covered "stilt" parking lot - the smell permeates through open windows whether it be a cold start or if I have let the engine run in idle for a minute after completing a run. This has been the case all along since the car was spanking new.

It bothers me too. I try not to think about it. I don't get any headaches because of it, but i do have a smoker's cough (chronic bronchitis, where the ciliae lining my lungs have begun malfunctioning and I cough every now and then for no apparent reason)....and I'm not even a smoker! Doctors surmise that I'm a victim of air pollution. It's kind of ironic that a guy with respiratory issues owns a diesel car huh?

[RaSing]

If possible, stop parking in covered areas for a few days. Or else, let someone else do the job.

[Rahulkool]

I have also observed this, in the morning i start my petrol car and leave it running while open the parking door or move the bike which is parked just behind the car. Recently my friend parked his diesel car in the same place and kept the it running for 1-2 mins and i was standing outside, not even close to the car i was at least few fts behind, it really felt suffocating. The parking is very big and open from 3 sides, still the smell from the diesel car was really bad and suffocating.

[aadya]

At least as of now, diesel fumes are noxious. There is no second opinion. Some people get trouble with diesel fumes and many do not. I used to fall sick whenever I used to jog in the roads with lot of taxi traffic, same would not happen when there are lots of two wheeler traffic or when I just walk.
On analysing the multiple episodes of my respiratory episodes I concluded that the acidic nature of the diesel fumes injures my respiratory tract. Same on the days when I keep the car idle with AC off and I start getting the smell inside the cabin. Somehow AC on recirculation mode wards off the diesel fumes effectively.

My suggestions would be to
1.Avoid diesel vehicles if economics and requirements allow.
2.Keep the windows closed and AC running(some stress to engine is unavoidable)all the times when the engine is running.
3.Avoid idling in closed spaces.
4.While parking in closed spaces make sure exhaust is towards better ventilated sides.
5.Fill fuel in reliable stations.
6.Use System D like diesel additives once every 2000kms or so to keep the engine clean of deposits.
7.Change air filter, diesel and oil filter atleast 20-30% earlier than recommended interval.

[Altocumulus]

So the car is literally giving you headaches. I too have a similar issue because of which I have consciously stayed away from diesel cars. I also can't take the pushback feeling of the sudden turbo spooling in and then the letting go of it. Specially as a passenger I feel pukish, in the Swift Dzires of Ubers and Olas. Thank God the Laura Tsi I owned, had very linear acceleration even though it was turbocharged.

My suggestion is if this is your only/ daily car and if your finances allow let go of it. If you are not used to it in 6months how long are you going to suffer because of it. Wishing everytime no one gets down from the car, or not having to open the windows, etc etc is not sustainable.

[beast_within]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

My 6 month old Verna is my first diesel car. I never owned or driven a diesel car before but from day one since I bought this car I am facing a peculiar problem. Whenever I smell the exhaust, this typically happens when I lower a window or open a door to get out or let a passenger I end up with a mild headache. I thought this will go away after some time but so far it has not and I am even considering selling it off just to stop the headaches.
.

I own a 2012 BSIV variant of Swift Diesel. The car's exhaust has been giving this suffocating smell ever since the beginning of the ownership. I have tried changing the fuel bunks, Oil Brands without any success. I have got the EGR valve and Inter-cooler cleaned multiple times and got the Diesel Engine Cleaning treatment done from 3M Care Care.

The foul smell enters the cabin as soon as I open any window and the car is stationary even on open roads (read ventilated area).

Maruti ASS says that this is absolutely normal for a Diesel Car.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by sumeethaldankar

Whenever I smell the exhaust, this typically happens when I lower a window or open a door to get out or let a passenger I end up with a mild headache.

Well, moving to another car certainly won't help you as there are enough numbers of other diesel cars on the road whose exhausts could bother you too.

Point to note is the smell is apparent in confined spaces like parking lots etc.

Perhaps you can switch off the engine and then tell the passenger to get off? And do the same before rolling down your window? Also ensure that your air-con is set to 'recirculation' mode.

I think that should solve your problem. But in the unlikely event that it still persists, get a pollution mask for parking lots & basements. Will be a heck of a lot more cheaper than replacing your car .

[sagarpadaki]

I think you are allergic to diesel fumes. Maybe consulting a doctor/ENT specialist would help you in this.

As a interim measure. Stop the engine in enclosed areas.

[sai_ace]

Also see if you can have a high performance cabin air purifier like Philips etc. And also if you can substitute your regular cabin air filter with a activated charcoal filter.

[Kosfactor]

This is a problem with diesel engines, selling the vehicle off is the last step but before that lets consider some alternatives.

I think you should do whatever possible to reduce exposure to diesel fumes, they can cause irritation in the nose and eyes for some, some nausea as well. I could never travel in a diesel vehicle earlier, but moving to a highly polluted city has got me adjusted to this now.

Cold start : Step inside, Start the vehicle and move out slowly without much throttle input, no need to idle.
Shut down : Drive gently for the last few hundred meters and shutdown , open doors afterwards.

I have the habit of reversing with driver window down , so some exposure to tail pipe emissions are sometimes unavoidable. It is certainly more unpleasant than a petrol exhaust.

[fordday]

I too have this hyper sensitivity or allergy to diesel fumes. I cannot stand the smell of it. It almost makes me breathless. Standing or driving behind a diesel can make me feel nauseous.

A diesel car was never in my list even when petrol prices were at peak and everyone thought of buying a diesel.

Its a fact that diesel engine pollutes more compared to a petrol.

Nowadays I commute (carpool) to office in a colleague's XUV. Every time the door opens for someone to get in or out, diesel smell/fumes rush inside. Of course the surrounding vehicles do contribute to this effect.
But I have found that when I take my petrol car in the carpool, it does not have the same effect or may be not noticeable.

[civic-sense]

Diesel fumes give me nausea. I used to puke in buses when I was a kid, so I always hated travel.

I was in two minds whether to buy a diesel car when I bought the Compass, but Jeep didn't leave me much room for choice, so went ahead. But diesel fumes still give me nausea and I hate it even after using it for 10 months.

Maybe for my next car, I'd go back to petrol.

[Durango Dude]

The last diesel car I drove was a Sipani D-1 with the BMC 1.5L diesel engine.. It was way back in the late 80's or early 90's I guess. I live in a warm place; starting up the car was the first thing I did on waking up: or it wouldn't start at all (battery would loose charge on using the warming element) when it did start it farted black soot and my school going son used to be quiet amused at that sight. The car was my dad's. Nuff said and sorry for going of topic!