Gas smell?

[White Collar]

A lady called today who had a bunch of gas spill in the back of her SUV and that its been over two weeks and the gas smell is still there.

Any good reccomendations to get gas smell out of vehicles?

Thanks.

 

[Mark Saiger]

It really should be pulled out including the padding under and replaced....

Difficult to remove a petroleum type product with water, and the fumes in that enclosed environment not very healthy.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

My brother has a big upholstery shop. His girls and the airguns have the seats and carpets out in 5 or 10 minutes.

As Mark said, that's the only way to approach this successfully.

 

[mirf]

I had it happen in my sons trunk. Tried and never got it out completely had to remove it.

 

[Dolly Llama]

suggest she call her insurance co

..L.T.A.

 

[Brian H]

I have had a bit of success flooding the area with a VOC and then extracting... When I say flood, I mean a half gallon or so!

 

[Mikey P]

We have a local re-upholsterer here that as mentioned above, will remove the carpet kit, pressure wash/clean it and re-install for the same as we'd charge to come out and "just" run the the hand tool over it...


We send him a good amount of work obviously.

 

[hydracat]

Water and gas don't mix, but gas and alcohol do. Flood with ethyl, methyl, or Isopropol. This will allow more of the gas to be extracted. Then go to walmart and get some diesel gas stink remover in the auto dept. I bought some yesterday cause I was cleaning my heater filter and it work pretty good.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Its a difficult clean up and a serious problem for the owner to have. Don't get fooled by what you see because its what you don't see that bites you.

The problem is there are so many nooks and crannies for gas to pool in. There are plugs that can be removed and rocker panels that can be removed to allow access to recessed areas that have residue. Even once the liquid is gone the residue gas odor will be present until you clean all the metal and plastic up. Even then on a hot summers day with the windows up you may still get aw whiff of odor.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

In poo removal you don't remove poo by adding MORE poo.

Sounds better with the right word.

 

[tcdepot]

Here's a question for guys that have dealt with it: After you've removed what you can and cleaned what you can, would there be any benefit to using an ozone generator for a few hours to help remove the odor?

 

[Desk Jockey]

You'd want to be sure than the source of the odor has been addressed thoroughly.

Ozone doesn't penetrate well so you may just be cleaning up the air space more than the source of the odor. If you already own a generator I'd go ahead and give it a shot. Just do it for short periods and air it out before reoccupying the vehicle.

 

[tcdepot]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Thoroughly clean everything you can, replace what needs to be replaced and throw an ozone generator in there for an hour or two.

If that doesn't work, add a little more gasoline and a match and walk away like this:

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Hi concentrations of ozone (easy to do in a confined vehicle) can easily damage pliable materials in the vehicle. Stiffens some plastic and synthetic rubber for example.

 

[bob vawter]

you know it's dark in there....
perhaps lighting a match might hep....?

 

[Bryan S. Bennett]

Very easy to remove the gas smell.

First get a signed waiver that final results may vary the structure of the carpet and "other adjacent items", but the gas smell will definitely be gone

All you need is some flint, a striker and a $150 pair of good running shoes.....

(I wouldn't suggest smoking either while doing any of this!)

 

[Desk Jockey]

I agree Lee.

Don't expose rubber or elastic to Ozone gas for long periods of time. It can degrade with high concentrations over time.

 

[Lee Stockwell]

After the fire you'd smell smoke and, perhaps, ...gas.

 

[Desk Jockey]

You can easily Ozone the smoke

 

[hogjowl]

I've always been under the impression that it was only natural rubber that was damaged by ozone?

 

[White Collar]

Man this is crazy. Very good tips that I will let her know.
I don't have a ozone generator but may be a good investment for future purchase.