Episode 138: Smell You Later

On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels we are talking about the sense of smell. There are a lot of smells that cars make and have in general. Right off the bat, the olfactory system is one of the major triggers for memory, so when you smell something and it makes you think of a very specific moment in time that isn’t a coincidence. We also talk about some of the smells that our customers diffuse into their cars, whether it be body odor, dirty diapers, garbage, rotting food, or any of the other million disgusting things that mechanics all over the world have encountered while working on customers’ vehicles.

We also give a proper explanation for the origin of that “new car smell” and find out that not all of the brands smell the same fresh off the assembly line. We also explain how mold gets into modern cars and how to remediate some of the more unpleasant smells from your car. When it comes to diagnosing problems, your nose typically isn’t going to be the first tool that you are going to use, but just because it’s not the first tool you use doesn’t mean that it isn’t useful, especially in cases where cars aren’t running well because the gasoline that used to be in the tank is now closer to varnish.

Also Uncle Jimmy comes up with 47 different ways to say that something stinks and talks about his most/least favorite automotive smells.

This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you’re a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!