What's the deal with smelling and tasting the oil?

[SteveSS]

I see these TV mechanics smelling and actually tasting the oil off the dipstick. I suppose you might be able to smell a burned smell. What the heck are they trying to figure out by doing this and what gives off a red flag in the smell and or taste?

 

[c body convert]

reminds me of the old joke...sure glad i didn't step in it...

 

[WileE]

I see these TV mechanics smelling and actually tasting the oil off the dipstick. I suppose you might be able to smell a burned smell. What the heck are they trying to figure out by doing this and what gives off a red flag in the smell and or taste?

Never licked a dipstick... never will. Disgusting.

 

[eldubb440]

like that hack with the "fuel make it happeners" and the "lightning whirlers"? ......... everyone gets a TV show nowadays

 

[beanhead]

You can tell by the smell if there's fuel getting into it, or if it's been overcooked...taste it though? No thanks!

 

[Kern Dog]

like that hack with the "fuel make it happeners" and the "lightning whirlers"? ......... everyone gets a TV show nowadays

That friggin dude...
He seems like a friendly guy but yeah, the stupid terminology he uses is dumb as ****.

 

[RemCharger]

If your mechanic is tasting your car fluids.. time for a new mechanic

 

[Dipstick]

 

[Photon440]

The only reason that comes to mind would be to check for the sweetness of anti-freeze in the oil. I still wouldn't do it.

 

[Cranky]

That friggin dude...
He seems like a friendly guy but yeah, the stupid terminology he uses is dumb as ****.

I stink it's kinda funny lol. I mean I don't look forward to watching it and don't record it but will watch it if there's nothin else to watch and it's on. But yeah, it's kinda stooopid!

 

[0DegreeEngineer]

I know it's an unpopular opinion but I do like "that guy" due to him saving vehicles and he does have a disclaimer saying it is for entertainment purposes only...

 

[Runcharger]

Can hardly wait until Youtube runs it's course.

 

[Kern Dog]

????
You mean like the internet "fad" ?

 

[eldubb440]

I stink it's kinda funny lol. I mean I don't look forward to watching it and don't record it but will watch it if there's nothin else to watch and it's on. But yeah, it's kinda stooopid!

dude wastes his time wrenching on junk in the dirt......... and every time it lands on a flat bed to his shop...... what's the point?

 

[khryslerkid]

The practice started many, many years ago!

 

[Kern Dog]

I'd be interested in knowing the budget of these shows. To the ignorant, it is supposed to appear like a camera is just following a guy around as HE buys parts and fixes the car himself with his own money.
A realist will understand that nothing is as it seems in the entertainment industry.
Many of the Roadkill and Roadkill Garage projects are unfinished cars missing all sorts of interior, trim and small parts. I've seen some real lazy "fixes" when doing it right with correct parts isn't that hard to do. The Roadkill guys seem to absolutely favor performance over comfort with "complete-ness" not being considered at all.
I prefer a car to be as complete as possible. Knowing what I have read from Freiberger over the years, I suspect that it is HE that cares so little about finishing a car.

 

[1STMP]

I see these TV mechanics smelling and actually tasting the oil off the dipstick. I suppose you might be able to smell a burned smell. What the heck are they trying to figure out by doing this and what gives off a red flag in the smell and or taste?

Click on the image...
Cannonball Run...Jack Elam as a
Proctologist...

 

[1STMP]

I'd be interested in knowing the budget of these shows. To the ignorant, it is supposed to appear like a camera is just following a guy around as HE buys parts and fixes the car himself with his own money.
A realist will understand that nothing is as it seems in the entertainment industry.
Many of the Roadkill and Roadkill Garage projects are unfinished cars missing all sorts of interior, trim and small parts. I've seen some real lazy "fixes" when doing it right with correct parts isn't that hard to do. The Roadkill guys seem to absolutely favor performance over comfort with "complete-ness" not being considered at all.
I prefer a car to be as complete as possible. Knowing what I have read from Freiberger over the years, I suspect that it is HE that cares so little about finishing a car.

Entertainment is the key word.
They don't care what it looks like.
A hemi in a Gremlin? Their whole
scheme is to get some junk yard
long dead vehicle revived enough
to drive it down the road with
Motortrends' help.

 

[RJ Squirrel]

I own a BMW that does not even have dipsticks, engine or transmission. That really bugs me, I like to be able to at least SEE the oil

 

[Cranky]

dude wastes his time wrenching on junk in the dirt......... and every time it lands on a flat bed to his shop...... what's the point?

It's the journey??

I'd be interested in knowing the budget of these shows. To the ignorant, it is supposed to appear like a camera is just following a guy around as HE buys parts and fixes the car himself with his own money.
A realist will understand that nothing is as it seems in the entertainment industry.
Many of the Roadkill and Roadkill Garage projects are unfinished cars missing all sorts of interior, trim and small parts. I've seen some real lazy "fixes" when doing it right with correct parts isn't that hard to do. The Roadkill guys seem to absolutely favor performance over comfort with "complete-ness" not being considered at all.
I prefer a car to be as complete as possible. Knowing what I have read from Freiberger over the years, I suspect that it is HE that cares so little about finishing a car.

Freiburger has his hands in so much stuff that it surprises that he gets anything running let alone make it look nice....but yeah, he likes to put stuff together cheaply like the Cheap Thrills Dart of a lot of years ago. How bout the Zip Tie Drags lol. His Ford model A is decently done I think and is decently done to run 8's in the 1/4 mile.