Following advice I got from this forum (thanks all), I changed the fuel filter on my Perkins engine yesterday. Things went ok and the engine started and ran fine without having to bleed fuel lines, injectors etc. but I have a couple of questions. How do you get the diesel smell out of the boat? Is it just a matter of waiting long enough? Anyone got any suggestions on a good way to get a grip on the filter once it gets slick with fuel the next time I do this. Since I was trying to remove the old and put on the new filter as rapidly as possible, it was frustrating having the old filter just slip in my hand. It was so slick the filter strap wrench just slid around.
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A. King
Odor Cure
I have found that the portable Ozone machines are a good way to remove any odors from the cabin.
I have found that the portable Ozone machines are a good way to remove any odors from the cabin.
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Frank
Source removal
1. Wash all hard surfaces in you cabin with hot soapy water, Rinse with clear warm water and dry. 2. Clean the soft goods, upholstry, bedding drapes air them in the sun and spray with a little Fabreeze. 3. Ozone although effective can degrade some rubber products and is unhealty to breath. When you use an ozone generator in a closed space you should air out the cabin for ten minutes or so before you spend any time below. When I worked in the cleaning industry we had ozone chambers we would put items in but they had exhaust fans controled from the outside and we would run them for 1/2 hour before entering. If you can smell the ozone then it is at a level that may be harmful to humans. 4. Replace the malodor with a more pleasing one, by boiling some potpurri or cinammin sticks.Your olfactory senses will pick up the strongest scent.
1. Wash all hard surfaces in you cabin with hot soapy water, Rinse with clear warm water and dry. 2. Clean the soft goods, upholstry, bedding drapes air them in the sun and spray with a little Fabreeze. 3. Ozone although effective can degrade some rubber products and is unhealty to breath. When you use an ozone generator in a closed space you should air out the cabin for ten minutes or so before you spend any time below. When I worked in the cleaning industry we had ozone chambers we would put items in but they had exhaust fans controled from the outside and we would run them for 1/2 hour before entering. If you can smell the ozone then it is at a level that may be harmful to humans. 4. Replace the malodor with a more pleasing one, by boiling some potpurri or cinammin sticks.Your olfactory senses will pick up the strongest scent.
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VIEXILE
Simple Green
Hinckley uses "Simple Green" and I used it when my diesel tank decided to pinhole and leak fully into my bilge last winter. The cockpit locker scuppers filled with grit and leaves, water got into the bilge, lifted up the diesel fuel to about 1" over my cabin sole, and everything stunk, including my in-hull aft water tank. Spooey everywhere. I cleaned and cleaned and scrubbed, etc. The simple green killed the smell with a little airing out. I'd think some in a squirt bottle and wipe down would probably cure your problem.
Hinckley uses "Simple Green" and I used it when my diesel tank decided to pinhole and leak fully into my bilge last winter. The cockpit locker scuppers filled with grit and leaves, water got into the bilge, lifted up the diesel fuel to about 1" over my cabin sole, and everything stunk, including my in-hull aft water tank. Spooey everywhere. I cleaned and cleaned and scrubbed, etc. The simple green killed the smell with a little airing out. I'd think some in a squirt bottle and wipe down would probably cure your problem.
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Kevin
Try latex gloves
Bill, I use disposable latex gloves when working with filters and diesel fuel and oil. It will give a somewhat better grip. Regarding the smell. As the others have suggested, give the bilge a good wash with a strong cleaner and air everything made of fabric that you can remove from the boat. But it will still take a couple of months to get ride of the smell entirely. Kevin
Bill, I use disposable latex gloves when working with filters and diesel fuel and oil. It will give a somewhat better grip. Regarding the smell. As the others have suggested, give the bilge a good wash with a strong cleaner and air everything made of fabric that you can remove from the boat. But it will still take a couple of months to get ride of the smell entirely. Kevin
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Bill O'Donovan
3 suggestions
They make an oil filter wrench with two claws on it (not the metal strap version) that doubles as a good gripper for getting the canisters off. After adopting the previous sage advice, leave some open boxes of baking soda in discreet places. As opposed to masking the odor, it actually absorbs odor. Unknown gobs of deisel and oil may be trapped in places you can't reach but which still drain into the bilge. Every fall I pour baking soda into those holes and follow with white vinegar to foam up and clean the hidden places. Then follow with boiling water to wash the residue out into the bilge. Amazing things emerge, and can be removed. As a result, my boat smells better than I do.
They make an oil filter wrench with two claws on it (not the metal strap version) that doubles as a good gripper for getting the canisters off. After adopting the previous sage advice, leave some open boxes of baking soda in discreet places. As opposed to masking the odor, it actually absorbs odor. Unknown gobs of deisel and oil may be trapped in places you can't reach but which still drain into the bilge. Every fall I pour baking soda into those holes and follow with white vinegar to foam up and clean the hidden places. Then follow with boiling water to wash the residue out into the bilge. Amazing things emerge, and can be removed. As a result, my boat smells better than I do.
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Tom
Dryer Sheets
Having had an odor on my boat that made my kids want to stay on shore, after cleaning the source, I stashed Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets around the boat. I literally used probably a dozen. Tucked in corners, hung behind doors, etc. Seemed to do the trick. Whether it masked the odor well enough until it finally disapated on its own, or whether they helped absorb it, the odor is gone and the kids are back on the boat.
Having had an odor on my boat that made my kids want to stay on shore, after cleaning the source, I stashed Bounce fabric softener dryer sheets around the boat. I literally used probably a dozen. Tucked in corners, hung behind doors, etc. Seemed to do the trick. Whether it masked the odor well enough until it finally disapated on its own, or whether they helped absorb it, the odor is gone and the kids are back on the boat.
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Paul Cairoli
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Bill lowe
Diesel odors
Thanks for all the suggestions. By the way Kevin, I started the filter change with latex gloves but they were slicker than my bare hands. Maybe something with a texture like playtex kitchen gloves?
Thanks for all the suggestions. By the way Kevin, I started the filter change with latex gloves but they were slicker than my bare hands. Maybe something with a texture like playtex kitchen gloves?
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