Diesel odour

[fred]

Anyone got a sure fire way of removing diesel odour. Some how or other I ha ve a diesel smell in a small compartment in the boot of my car. I've been l eaving that compartment open, and when possible the boot lid as well, for o ver 2 weeks now and while it may have improved slightly its still there.

I'd like to hear from those with actual experience if possible.

Yes it is a diesel car.

It is only 8 months old.

No I didn't spill diesel while re-fuelling.

I usually carry two large bath towels that SWMBO has rejected in the boot. They are handy for stopping loose tools rattling around and also if I have to change a wheel, which at may age is a hands and knees job. I did have on e rolled up and stowed in that small compartment in the boot floor. I can o nly imagine it had got tainted with diesel at some time or other.

Both towels have been banished.

Its driving me potty. One of the reasons I rejected diesel cars for years w as because of the smell of the bloody stuff. Now diesel cars are ubiquitous .

Paul Mc Cann

[The Natural Philosopher]

Time is all you can use here.

It goes eventually.

[Bob Minchin]

I've found a squirt to two of Febreeze miraculously effective eg on the upholstery of an inherited chair from a heavy smoking relative. It manages to work without masking the smell with an almost equally repugnant pong of flowers that other 'fresheners' do.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes that sort of oil does not evaporate like Petrol. If there are any joins or gaps in the construction or foam padded bits, or locks with voids inside it will linger for ever. I remember a neighbour having this issue with a diesel Motor caravan once. I think it got under some of the wooden internal bits and pieces.Sometimes one can cover it up with a smelly substance which is not as annoying like shoving one of those car fresheners near the apparent source of the pong. Incidentally when I was younger we had a motor caravan, it was petrol but we had a chemical toilet and although we always emptied it and never spilled it in the wagon, one could still smell it. Brian

[Peter Parry]

diesel smell in a small compartment in the boot of my car.

Get some cat litter made from Fullers Earth, the gray heavy stuff. Spread in the affected compartment, leave 24 hours and Hoover up. Repeat if necessary. When you have got rid of most of the smell Febreze will kill the rest.

Fullers earth is a clay and a strong absorbent which will absorb any diesel remnants in the compartment. Febreeze uses Hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin derived from corn starch and claim it captures odour molecules. It is an odour eliminator rather than a product which mask one noisome odour with another.

Note that you shouldn't use Fullers Earth in wet locations unless you like a sticky adhesive wet clay surface.

[Ericp]

Check that the connection from the tank to the filler cap is not leaking a small quantity of diesel when you fill up.

Some of those joins have weird heath robinson type connection and can leak.

[SteveW]

There may also be access to the top of the tank for removing the fuel take off, level sender and pump (if it is an in-tank one). A leak around there could be releasing an odour into the boot.

SteveW