I have a second tank in the trunk for when it's warm enough to run veggie blends. Right now I've just been putting diesel in it. After so many leaky fuel pumps and slight overfills, you can smell the aroma in the interior. I guess I've grown less sensitive to it, but I've had cases where people are bothered by the smell.

Any suggestions? Chemicals for cleaning with? Air freshener? Seems that air freshener would just mask the smell and put out more unhealthy stuff, unless there's a device that acts more like an air purifier.

You probably shouldn't be carrying diesel fuel in the passenger cabin. Just a bad idea, generally speaking.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

The diesel tank and most of the smell are in the trunk. Some people can smell it in the cabin though. Guess I might just try cleaning the trunk area with soap + water, but I'm curious if anyone else had experience with a smelly car.

The trunk is connected to the cabin (not sealed), I would also lose the extra tank.

Get a little trailer with a tank on it . . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

On a more practical note, you might try just picking a breezy day and letting it air with everything open that will open. Throw in something like Febreeze which at least claims to vanish odors rather than just cover them up (The old "Fish and flowers" commercial) - or just see what air does.

Best solution: fix the leaks and don't spill any!

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

On a more serious note....

Years ago I wore a certain jacket while changing the fuel
tank strainer and got fuel on the sleeve.

Even after repeated washing I never got the smell out.
Very disappointed.

I am of the opinion that there is no antidote to diesel smell.

No counter punch, no opposite force, no neutralizer.

I never tried ozium which is supposed to be a scientific chemical
that bonds with the odor molecules.

Maybe one of our more scientific members can comment.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

I was being mostly serious, I've never had the diesel problem but I've gotten other odors (Left a milkshake cup in the car for a day or two... oops) - out by just using the let-it-air-out-all-day method.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

You can always do what I did today. Spill a crock pot full of milk based soup all over the carpet. All up under the passanger seat as well. I cleaned as well as I can but you never get it all. Given a few days to "age" I'm sure the smell of diesel will be the least of concerns.

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'81 240D 4-Speed 328K (Daily Driver)
'01 Cadillac SLS 135k (currently up for sale)

Bring it to central Florida and park in/near a Orange grove. The blossoms are just getting started. It smells really nice.

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92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59

Go to a vaccuum cleaner specialty store. They will have something that will kill the smell.

An Ionizer maybe?
maybe tomato juice.....it works for skunk odor.
use a brush and "paint" it on leave it sit for awhile
then scrub with soap and water.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Nylezene.

how about old coffee grounds?

I sprinkle baking soda on diesel spills in the garage, really helps keep the smell down, I buy large boxes of it @ costco.

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Cheers,
Robert