How messy to fill the diesel tank?

[bamafutbal]

no problem filling up my dodge turbo 6 diesel. now some pumps are very dirty while others are clean, so choose wisely

[Dannyell]

is that a real question LOL? I thorught you were refering to the price of diesel...but like most said it is not....just as gas...and odor? for me i enjoy the diesel odor as much as gasoline...

They are worth it

[Craig]

Just keep a glove in the back of the car in a zip lock bag. It's not messy, but it will leave a smell on your hands if you don't wear a glove... Like others said, stay away from dirty pumps. I've never had it on my clothes, just my hand if I didn't wear a glove. You can keep a few throw away exam gloves in your car as well... and just throw them away after each use.

Craig

[alexmish]

Move to NJ !!!!

[Penguin]

Well, remember that in years gone by, when I was a youngster, they referred to the stuff as "Diesel Oil," i.e., when it evaporates it leaves much more of a reside than gasoline. And if you've ever hit a patch of spilled diesel on a motorcycle, you'll know why they use to refer to it as "diesel oil."

[X5_Newbie]

Originally Posted by JCL

Some odor, but no worries with a suit (unless you wipe your hands on the suit). As diesel does not evaporate the same as gasoline, residue on the pump nozzle often gets on your hand. Many stations offer disposable gloves; I don't usually use them but last week after filling a diesel Toyota, I did have to wash my hands to get rid of the smell. Depends how much it bothers you.

plus I "learned" Diesel should be more aggressive to the skin in terms of potentially causing cancer - that's another reason to use a glove or a tissue.

[Bigfoot]

Originally Posted by Craig

Just keep a glove in the back of the car in a zip lock bag. It's not messy, but it will leave a smell on your hands if you don't wear a glove... Like others said, stay away from dirty pumps. I've never had it on my clothes, just my hand if I didn't wear a glove. You can keep a few throw away exam gloves in your car as well... and just throw them away after each use.

Craig

I like the latex glove idea. Thanks, I'm leaning toward diesel for my next X5. On a flat highway at 65 mph, my previous 3.0i could get 24-25 mpg. My current 4.4 can get 23 mpg. I'm looking forward to see what I can squeeze out of a diesel.

My other question is . . . Is the X5 diesel as quiet and smooth as the ML320 CDI? I test drove the current Mercedes and was amazed by the quiet power of the 320 CDI.

Please no biased BMW is the only choice. If somebody has driven both diesels, let me know if you noticed much of a difference.

Thanks in advance,
Bigfoot

p.s. I never implied European mayors are messy. I have just heard the diesel pumps can be messy . . . and that has been confirmed.

[Fastbuck]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot

My other question is . . . Is the X5 diesel as quiet and smooth as the ML320 CDI? I test drove the current Mercedes and was amazed by the quiet power of the 320 CDI.

You'll see from my sig that I've owned an E Class 320 CDI which is the same engine as used in the ML. I can confirm that the X5 is just as quiet.

[digiteye]

Never drove ML but the X5 is smooth and nice. Cornering almost like a sports car :P The standard power steering sucks tho. I am getting buffed up since driving it... kinda tight. Should have bought the active steering option.

About refilling the tank... isn't there any staff at the petrol stations in the US?? I am sure for some tip they gonna fill it up.
If you gonna happen to do it yourself, it usually wont do any mess.
Make sure no overfill. The fuel is colder under the ground in the container, then its temperature increases once inside your tank. For that its volume will increase also, so if you overfill right before reaching home or you park the car right after refilling, the excess diesel may leak at the fuel inlet.

But it does not happen often.

[Craig]

Most stations here in the U.S. are self service...

Craig