Mold and another unrelated Oil question... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

willlyons · #1 10-15-2006, 09:42 AM

I have 2 question's about my good ol' Benzo...
First of all, I live in western north carolina which tends to be a particularly damp area of the country. This summer, I had to borrow a truck for several weeks to do some work from, and let my car sit for perhaps 2-3 weeks outside of my house. I didn't really check on it or anything, and much to my surprise, and discust, when I went to check on it one day I found quite a bit of mold starting to grow in the carpet and upholstry. I shoudl have thought about this because the house I was staying in get's quite moldy in the summer but I had never lived there before and wasn't aware of the problem. What can be down to fix this, I wiped it down with Lysol mold killer, but was wondering if there are any other products I can put under the seats or in the car to keep it dry and kill the mold.
Secondly, I was in a hurry to go on a trip after changing my oil and realized about 20 minutes away from my house that I forgot to put the oil cap back on! Flame away...Regardless, I turned around and headed back to the house without the oil cap on. I changed the oil as soon as I got home and the car never overheated or anything but I was wondering what the possibility of this doing some serious damage to the engine were?
Third (I know I said 2 questions but this one just came to me). I have a rust problem on the passenger floorboard under and behind the front seat and one of the little rubber "plugs" or drains actually has fallen out leaving a 3" diameter hole exposing the road to the inside of hte car. I took the carpet and whatnot out so it wouldn't get wet (hopefully to prevent mold but that didn't work so well) and am now just curious on a fix. Should I clean and repaint the entire passenger side of the car with some sort of rust killer, cut the metal out and replace with sheet metal, or I even thought about rhino-lining it. Any suggestions? Cheap is better, I'm a poor college student.
Thanks for your time,
Will Lyons

dakarm34 · #2 10-15-2006, 10:14 AM

I bought my 82 300sd a few months ago it was in a field for 5 years so I've been there. I bought it in Surry County, NC, I live in Clemmons, NC. So I know about mold and stink. Sam's club sells stuff called odo-ban, it's in a gallon jug with a spray bottle attached, in the automotive section. I pulled the entire interior out, power washed the carpeting, let it all dry for a few weeks outside under protection and sprayed the heck out of it with odo-ban. Spray your seats underneath as well. You may want to mix bleach and water and do a lite wiping with that to kill any bacteria first. I also wiped the entire metal inside the car down then sprayed it with odo-ban. It has helped tremendously. My car was so bad there was a snake skin under the driver side front speaker! Luckily it was only a black snake.

Rich