Damn Diesel Smell

[richard_legge]

Hi,

We had a substantial diesel leak last season, with quite a lot in the bilges. Although I've scrubbed, degreased, cleaned, jetwashed, degreased some more, the smell in the boat remains, and has permeated everything. We even stink of diesel when we get home after the weekends! Has anyone a magic cure on how to get rid of the smell.. or hints on best products to use...

Thanks

 

[2Tizwoz]

Spills occur when filling machinery however dissipate over time. Presumably ventilation is the key, which in the bilges will no doubt be difficult.

Washing powder and hot water is cheap, has a more acceptable perfume and is bio-degradable according to the box. I have often used it to clean up oils. You don't say whether there are timbers or other permeable materials involved which the diesel may have soaked in to. These will take some time to clear however my experience is that it does eventually go.

After the degreasing plenty of ventilation should shift it. Leave your floorboards up and the boat as well ventilated as you can manage. I see others facing problems with mildew on sails bedding etc. over the winter which I have only had limited problems with but my boat has a sunpowered vent and I usually leave the deck hatches in their 'vent' position to give a flow through of air. Presumably a similar arrangement will clear the last of your diesel.

I couldn't agree more about how objectionable the smell is despite having worked with it for over forty years.

 

[Ecartar]

'Febreze' on fabrics, etc. 'Neutradol- Green as spray or gel block in small container - Supermarkets. Suggest 'Bilgex' in bilge, etc - Chandlers.
Regards

 

[supermalc]

A few years ago, a friend (now sadly dead) came to visit in his working clothes. He was an agricultural engineer, working on tractors.

He sat on a newspaper on the settee for a short while. A year later the smell was so bad I had to wash the cushion.

Being around diesel is the best, as our sense of smell becomes acustomed to it.

I've found having my old boat with diesel smells, it does not bother me as much as it used to, but agree I have to change all my clothes after a day onboard.

Have you tried Jays fluid. I was told to use this to combat the mould (before I made my stove) by an old experienced boater. I've found splashing it around more pleasant than the diesel smell.

 

[LORDNELSON]

A couple of years ago we had a spill of about 4 gallons of diesel in our GRP bilges. We pumped it out (laid up, out of the water) and disposed of the diesel and then washed out the bilges very well with "Jizer" water rinsable de-greaser. No problem with smell after that. I believe that "Jizer" is not enviromentally or health friendly, so if you use it, read the instructions on the can.

 

[ccscott49]

Daz, hot water, go to sea, pump out afterwards, helps immensely. Jeyes fluid does also work, but the smell is pretty stroing. Leave daz ion there for a few days and pump out again, the smell will go, plenty of ventilation.

 

[dralex]

If it's just residual diesel on surfaces, then I've found Mr Muscle Orange works well and involves minimal hot water producing minimal volumes of waste which you can take ashore. I sloshed a fair bit of diesel recently while changing changing a filter. Mopped it up with nappies, then used the Mr Muscle. Smells fine now. It depends how deep your bilges are and if you can reach all areas to wipe.