Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-29-2017, 08:44 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
Getting rid of Diesel Smell

Hi All,

Had a buddy come to the boat last night and as he steps in he says "what are you going to do about the diesel smell"? As you may know from my "The Adventure Begins" post, we took delivery Saturday, went to the fuel dock, then back at the guest slip I lifted the covers and there was fuel everywhere. The #1 injector was loose (maybe from the recent service?), I tightened it up, no problem, leak gone, runs good. I spent 2 hours wiping and soaking, got it all cleaned up. Then the 3.5 hour trip home burned a lot of the residual off, still giving off "whisps" after we docked. 2 days later everything is dry and I and my wife don't smell diesel.

That all being said... is there a "trick" to removing left over diesel smell?

Dave
__________________
GOD, Family, career
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 09:23 AM   #2
Guru
 
DHeckrotte's Avatar
 
City: Philadelphia, PA
Vessel Name: Revel
Vessel Model: 1984 Fu Hwa 39
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,024
1 Wash what/where you can. 2 Ventilation. 3 Time.

Diesel evaporates.

(My readers here know about our diesel adventures.)
DHeckrotte is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 09:39 AM   #3
Guru
 
dhays's Avatar
 
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
http://www.cleaningupoil.com/products/os-spill-kits/

https://www.amazon.com/Oil-Solutions.../dp/B01DZ4TAJE

I have had it now for over a year and it works great on diesel, gas, and oil. I fortunately have only had small spills from mishaps when changing filters, cleaning Racors etc... but it cleans it up and gets rid of the odor.
__________________
Regards,

Dave
SPOT page
dhays is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 10:09 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
ragin cajun's Avatar
 
City: Lafayette, LA
Vessel Name: presently boatless
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 350
Learned about this from a sail boater. They used Calgon and warm water to wash down their interior and wash their sheets, towels and curtains.
ragin cajun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 10:21 AM   #5
Guru
 
City: Chicago/Montrose Harbor
Vessel Name: Sea Jay
Vessel Model: Non Trawler ;-) Ask me if it matters LOL
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 512
Pure Ayre? Isn't that the favorite of some including Peggie?
Gmarr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 11:58 AM   #6
Guru
 
HeadMistress's Avatar


 
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
Yup...'cuz PureAyre PureAyre is not an air freshener...It's the only product I've found that eliminates ANY odor when used correctly. 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 or freezer by the steaks or fish that spoiled when a natural disaster took out shore power for 3 days. Also does a great job on musty PFDs and foulies.

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 or replace the stinky hoses, then thoroughly clean the site, including every nook and cranny ...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, just spraying it on the surface won't do much...you need to spray enough on carpets and rugs to penetrate to the backing...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 odor, you missed a spot.

Also good for musty foulies and PFDs...so a spray bottle won't go very far...plus, it's cheaper in the long run to buy it by the gallon...it has an indefinite shelf life, so just keep it on hand. Amazon has it.


Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein
__________________
© 2024 Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since '87.
Author "The NEW Get Rid of Boat Odors"
HeadMistress is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 01:02 PM   #7
Veteran Member
 
City: Chesapeake Region
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 85
After cleaning up the spilled fuel, spray the area with Formula 409. Use the spray liberally. A fuel polishing tech told me about 409 and diesel smell. It works.
Catbird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 06:25 PM   #8
Guru
 
alormaria's Avatar
 
City: Trenton
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,522
409 and simple green to remove the diesel. Fabrese on all the fabrics.
__________________
Al Johnson
34' Marine Trader
"Angelina"
alormaria is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 06:34 PM   #9
Master and Commander
 
markpierce's Avatar
 
City: Vallejo CA
Vessel Name: Carquinez Coot
Vessel Model: penultimate Seahorse Marine Coot hull #6
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 12,559
In a slow diesel boat, with a following wind, diesel smell is like what one should expect.
__________________
Kar-KEEN-ez Koot
markpierce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 07:19 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Dave_E's Avatar
 
City: La Conner, WA
Vessel Name: Agnus Dei
Vessel Model: 36' Shin Shing
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 276
Quote:
Originally Posted by markpierce View Post
In a slow diesel boat, with a following wind, diesel smell is like what one should expect.
The smell is from the diesel spill, not the exhaust, I know we're stuck with that during a following wind.
Dave_E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 10:36 PM   #11
Guru
 
City: New Orleans
Vessel Name: Scot Free
Vessel Model: Cheoy Lee 53' Efficient
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 754
Also wash the clothes you were wearing in a separate bucket before putting them in the washing machine.
McGillicuddy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-29-2017, 10:52 PM   #12
Guru
 
C lectric's Avatar
 
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
Years ago, when we first got the current boat, it stank of diesel. Part of my efforts was to clean the wood shelving and drawers that the diesel stove sat on. Diesel had leaked and soaked the raw wood.

Washed it as best I could and then after a few weeks acetone wiped it thoroughly. I then varnished it heavily. The sealing helped. Couldn't get all of it of course but at least the smell had been reduced to a dull roar.

For many years untill my last fiasco there was no odour other than minor ones around filter changes. Wasn't just my nose but others coming aboard who were used to diesel smelling boats that noticed, no smell.

Of course the ULSD has a far weaker odour than the old stuff of many years ago.

Clean it thoroughly washing everything that you can. But time and ventilation is also your friend. Use a couple of fans if you can to force air interchange.
C lectric is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 05:27 PM   #13
ljk
Senior Member
 
ljk's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers FL
Vessel Name: Hobie Kayak
Vessel Model: Passport 12.0, 34 Mainship Pilot, Mako 24,32 Regal Commodore, PT-41 Trawler, 33 Chris Craft Cavalier
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 285
I used to keep a couple of open dishes of white vinegar in my 1983 41 ft trawler. Did a great job---and cheap!
ljk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 06:11 PM   #14
Veteran Member
 
jacquesm's Avatar
 
City: Vero Beach
Vessel Name: Lucky Dog
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 94
A little sniff of diesel ins't bad. Since 50 years , I associate it with the pleasure of boating.
Our cleaning lady uses Fabuloso and half a cup of it the bilges does a good job. I often spill a bit when changing filters.
jacquesm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2017, 06:26 PM   #15
Guru
 
Nomad Willy's Avatar
 
City: Concrete Washington State
Vessel Name: Willy
Vessel Model: Willard Nomad 30'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 18,743
Get a gasoline engine.
Much quieter and lighter is good.
__________________
Eric

North Western Washington State USA
Nomad Willy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:52 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012