diesel smell

I am looking at a trawler that seems to have a small diesel leek some ware. once the leek is located and fixed what is the best way to get the fuel smell out of the bilge and cabin area.
thanks Curt

Once you have cleaned up any residue, open the boat up and ventilate. If you have an engine room fan, leave it on. It may take a week of ventilation days. Clean all surfaces in the cabin with a damp wash cloth with just a little soap in your rinse bucket. Fabric items like curtains, cushions and carpets may need additional cleaning.

Ted

^^^this!

Be sure it is not coming from a leak in one of the tanks that is an usually anexpensive repair.

My missus is Welsh and she loves leeks.

I hate the friggin' things.

Diesel smells good why do you want to get rid of this wonderfull fragrance?

A company called Oil Solutions makes a product to clean up oil spills that will clean the spill and eliminate the odor from the surfaced cleaned.

I have used this product to clean up spill diesel as well as gasoline. It really does work and after you use it you can't smell the diesel on the surface any longer. I keep it on the boat as part of my spill kit.

If the smell is strong, you will still likely need to get rid of soft stuff like carpets and fabrics that may have absorbed it.

Thanks for the quick responses, yes it also has leaks Plan to go and check it out closer and try to find the source of the smell in a few weeks. It must be a small leak, there is no standing fuel in the bilge.
thanks curt

Look on the top of the tank also. There may be a rust hole or vent line issue where the fuel isn't leaking out of the tank, but vapors are coming out through a hole.

Ted

I recently had to replace an elbow on top of one tank that leaked. It was on top of a standpipe fitting and with the tanks full and heat, expansion was pushing it out of the bronze elbow which apparently had a crack or hole in it. I replaced it and no more leak or leek even. Tank was too full as well.

Look for excessive blow by out of the crank case vent tube once the engine is up to temperature. When the engine is running remove the oil fill plug an see how much air hits you.

Excessive blow will give a strong odor...more burnt smell... with some fuel mixed in.

Conall

Capt.Bill11 said:

Odor eliminator PureAyre eliminates cat, pet, smoke, skunk, cigars, gasoline, cooking and musty odors

Click to expand...

+1 for PureAyre. It's not an air freshener as so many odor products are. It's the only product I've found that eliminates ANY odor. Not only will it get of diesel and residual odor left behind by stinking sanitation hoses, but PureAyre is also rated for use around food...which means you can even use it to get rid of the odor left in your fridge by the steaks or fish that spoiled when anatural disaster took out shore power for 3 days.

How to use it:
You can never eliminate any odor unless you first eliminate the source...'cuz as long as the source continues to exist, it'll continue to generate new odor. So first you have to find and fix any leak, then thoroughly clean the site, including every nook and cranny where any oil got to...a good scrubbing with detergent and water. Mop up an excess water and let the air dry till it's at least only damp...no standing puddles. Now you're ready to eliminate the residual odor. Use PureAyre full strength...I'd use pump garden spray jug set to a fine mist. Spray every surface, nook and cranny...just a light spray. Do NOT rinse...just let it dry with hatches open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate. If the soft goods in the cabin have picked up the odor, spray enough to penetrate cushions to the middle from both sides..not enough to make 'em drippy, just enough to get into the cushion....you'll prob'ly have to remove the covers and send 'em to be cleaned. Again, just let everything dry. If you still have any diesel odor, you missed a spot.

They have several versions...I've found that the "household" version works just as well as the higher priced "marine" version.