Diesel

[TonyBuckley]

Twenty litre diesel tank in boot of car.

Sainsbury shop in back of car.

The two did not agree and the diesel tank air bleed screw loosened resulting in a few litres spillage.

Car now stinks. Laid newspaper and that absorbed some.

Any advice for returning my car smell to factory fresh?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[philip_stevens]

Could you wash with a Citrus type cleaner? That would probably remove the diesel smell.

I've had diesel on my hands, and the citrus hand wash at home has removed the smell.

 

[Rock Dodger]

Try Fullers Earth or cat litter to do the soaking up. Diesel tends to form a nice big film over any surface it can get at, detergent will only disperse it but the citrus cleaner idea might work. When I have handled diesel my hands eventually get rid of the smell on their own, regrettably you car will not shed the outer layers of its epidermis. Diesel is a defatting substance so gloves are recommended for the clean up.

Swarfega comes in orange "flavour" these days. Can you still buy Teepol?

 

[robmcg]

Cat urine cleaner for carpets. In a spray from pets at home. Has an enzyme that will break down the diesel. Take boot carpet out and give it a thorough going over with the hose!

 

[sarabande]

have a word with Oiltechnics (www.oiltechnics.com)

They have a range of biologically effective liquids for use in such cases.

 

[TonyBuckley]

OP here.

Took carpet out and spray washed with lots of washing up liquid. Dried (luckily all plastic rigid construction) and then a bottle of fabreze sprayed all over. And an open pack of kitty litter placed in boot. Totally sorted and smells great. No idea what is in fabreze but it is great stuff.

 

[Alpha22]

Time..... leave the carpet out in the sun.... leave the boot open in the sun.... it will clear... mine did!!!

All we need now is some sun!!!

 

[rotrax]

OP here.

Took carpet out and spray washed with lots of washing up liquid. Dried (luckily all plastic rigid construction) and then a bottle of fabreze sprayed all over. And an open pack of kitty litter placed in boot. Totally sorted and smells great. No idea what is in fabreze but it is great stuff.

In a previous life First Mate and I ran a country garage. We took a 1.3 Marina 2-door in P/X for a nice Peugeot. The owner of the Marina was a cowman on the local farm. The interior smelt like a cowshed. We removed as many carpets as we could, gave them a good wash, washed out the interior and replaced all the carpets when dry. Big improvement, but our only potential customers would have been farmers-it still smelt like a cowshed. First Mate had a brainwave and steamed in with the "Shake and Vac"-worked a treat!