15 replies to this topic

[massey driver]

Just wondering if anyone has a sure fire way to get rid of the smell of old gas. I'am helping my Grandson fix this old snowmobile he bought and the old gas smell is getting to us.Everything was OK untill I grabbed the fuel line that goes into the gas tank It started leaking old gas due to the rubber gromet being rotten.We had to drag the machine outside due to all the old gas leaking over everything..We can't work in the heated shop on account of the smell over powering us.Was kinda hoping to beable to pour something into the gas tank as well as were lots has leaked onto the machine itself.Its sitting on a sleigh that we move it around on and the old gas has gotten over it as well.Using water and ??  in freezing temps won't work so just asking if anyone has any ideas.Right now its on hold due to the smell.Of course you can imagine how happy he is with me right now that I won't bring it back inside to work on.LOL .I'll have to search other sources for the rubber gromet seeing Ski doo no longer has them.I need to get rid of the smell more so then anything.Thanks Larry

Edited by massey driver, February 20, 2013 - 03:38 PM.

[JRJ]

Larry I had a similiar problem with my GT235 right after I got it home. To make a long story short I found a rubber bushing into the gas tank where the gas line join it. I replace the bushing ($2.55) and the gas smell was gone. Hope yours can be as simple.

 

Just check the gas lines real good at all connections.

Dick

Edited by JRJ, February 20, 2013 - 03:14 PM.

[[email protected]]

white vinegar, it's cheap and the results will surprise you. For the shop leave a few wide bowls of it to get rid of the smell.

We use it a lot to remove smell (smoke) in houses.

[boyscout862]

If the smell is strong it still could be volatile. Be careful of a fire.

[superaben]

I'll second the white vinegar.

 

Ben W.

[JDBrian]

That's hard to get rid of in a short time. I use Kitty Litter on diesel spills to soak up the fuel and it also seems to deal with the odour. I'm not sure if it would work on gas spills though. 

[MH81]

If it has leaked into the cement, the vinegar may help. I have also had luck getting it off hands or out of gloves/clothes with borax, water and head-n-shoulders... Might be something to consider when washing stuff off.

Coffee grounds do a decent absorption of odors.

[Gtractor]

Go out and find a skunk. Capture said skunk.  Take skunk into shop and frighten skunk. 

You won't smell any old gas. 

 

 

OK, that might not be the best solution ~~~~~~~ 

[[email protected]]

That's hard to get rid of in a short time. I use Kitty Litter on diesel spills to soak up the fuel and it also seems to deal with the odour. I'm not sure if it would work on gas spills though. 

If you ever have a large diesel spill after the "kitty litter" use good old fashion powdered lime, it wicks it out of concrete very good.

Put it down and after it turns color just sweep it up, repeat until no color change, if smell is still there, follow with a 5 gallon bucket of warm water and dish washing detergent, just put it on spill area and let it dry. I've done 100's of spills over the years, and these little things work, with out fancy chemicals which are $$.

[JDBrian]

Thanks John. I have one of those flo and go nozzle rigs to put fuel into the 2320. The tank opening is on the top of the hood which is not a good spot for it if you aren't pumping the fuel. I put 2 20L (5.3gallon) tanks up on a shelf about 6ft high and use the nozzle to siphon the gas in. In the cold it sometimes sticks and won't shut off. This happened the other day and resulted in a bit of a mess. I find the Kitty Litter works well if you get it on right away. I always have it handy in the garage. I'll give the floor the treatment you recommend this summer to get it good and clean. 

[Canawler]

I told my wife there's a thread about getting rid of old gas smell.  She's following it with great interest.

[bh115577]

If the vinegar trick doesn't take care of it, which it should, you can get a spray can from the local HVAC supply house. It is for removing the smell of heating oil in a home if it leaks and I unfortunately know that it works very well. It's been about 10 years since I bought it but the spray was less than $10 I think.

 

 

This isn't the exact product I bought but it looks to be something similar.

 

http://www.zorbx.com...about_zorbx.asp

Edited by bh115577, February 21, 2013 - 12:25 PM.

[[email protected]]

If the vinegar trick doesn't take care of it, which it should, you can get a spray can from the local HVAC supply house. It is for removing the smell of heating oil in a home if it leaks and I unfortunately know that it works very well. It's been about 10 years since I bought it but the spray was less than $10 I think.

 

 

This isn't the exact product I bought but it looks to be something similar.

 

http://www.zorbx.com...about_zorbx.asp

  , is what you most likely have, it works on fresh fuel oil. Use it just about every day for work. More of a mask than removal, long term.

For big spills my outline above works, don't ask why I know, after 25 years in the heating business

[DougT]

On heavy oil stains at the shop, I use stoddard solvent. Put some on the floor and mop it around, then put oil dry on it. Go back later and sweep up the oil dry. It wil be reusable and the floor will be nice and clean.