Does anyone have an idea of how to get rid of the diesel smell that sems to be everywhere in my boat? There are no leaks but the smell after lay up is to much.
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First get rid of the source
Every odor has to have a source..otherwise an air freshene would be all you'd need. No leak now doesn't mean there was never a spill or a leak....maybe you have a small leak you don't know about. So step 1 in getting rid of the odor is finding the source of it and removing it....start with a THOROUGH bilge cleaning--lots of detergent, elbow grease or power washer, followed hosing out till the water running out your bilge pumps is clean enough to drink. Once you've eliminated the source, Febreze seems to do a good job of getting diesel odor out of cushons, carpet and other softgoods.
Every odor has to have a source..otherwise an air freshene would be all you'd need. No leak now doesn't mean there was never a spill or a leak....maybe you have a small leak you don't know about. So step 1 in getting rid of the odor is finding the source of it and removing it....start with a THOROUGH bilge cleaning--lots of detergent, elbow grease or power washer, followed hosing out till the water running out your bilge pumps is clean enough to drink. Once you've eliminated the source, Febreze seems to do a good job of getting diesel odor out of cushons, carpet and other softgoods.
smell
White vinegar gets rid of diesel smell ...forget all the perfumes that try to cover it up.....works great on your hands after they get fuel on them
White vinegar gets rid of diesel smell ...forget all the perfumes that try to cover it up.....works great on your hands after they get fuel on them
The Source
In addition to Peggy's suggestion to look for a fuel leak (you probably would seen a sheen on top of the bilge water), you should check your diesel exhaust system for leaks. It doesn't take much of an exhaust leak for that stink to soak into everything. The former owner of my 28.5 fessed up to a major fuel spill before I bought it from him (making the spill 3 years ago or more). There is still to this day diesel fuel seeping into the bilge from somewhere inside the stringers or elsewhere. And believe me I have SCOURED the boat both from a cleaning and searching perspective. As for bilge water clean enough to drink....BLECH!
In addition to Peggy's suggestion to look for a fuel leak (you probably would seen a sheen on top of the bilge water), you should check your diesel exhaust system for leaks. It doesn't take much of an exhaust leak for that stink to soak into everything. The former owner of my 28.5 fessed up to a major fuel spill before I bought it from him (making the spill 3 years ago or more). There is still to this day diesel fuel seeping into the bilge from somewhere inside the stringers or elsewhere. And believe me I have SCOURED the boat both from a cleaning and searching perspective. As for bilge water clean enough to drink....BLECH!
Have you checked secondary fuel filter assembly?
I had this same thing on my '87 h28.5, and found that the chronic problem [after many of the cleaning methods mentioned] was a weeping secondary fuel filter assembly that had been tightened so often that it was stripped and needed replacement. Voila! End of problem, no more stinky cushions, no more smelly slick bilge water, and a lot of piece of mind!
Am I the only one that has had to do this? I now have it on my '89 h30. Am replacing this weekend while it rains ...
I had this same thing on my '87 h28.5, and found that the chronic problem [after many of the cleaning methods mentioned] was a weeping secondary fuel filter assembly that had been tightened so often that it was stripped and needed replacement. Voila! End of problem, no more stinky cushions, no more smelly slick bilge water, and a lot of piece of mind!
Am I the only one that has had to do this? I now have it on my '89 h30. Am replacing this weekend while it rains ...Here's what I did
I had that problem when I bought my boat - here's what I did. 1. Made sure there were no leaks in fuel system - had to put new banjo washers and fuel pump gasket to stop seepage onto hot engine. 2. Cleaned entire engine and engine compartment with foam engine cleaner from auto parts store. 3. Scrubbed bilge multiple times with biodegradable cleaner. 4. Removed cushions, washed covers, washed foam cushions with lots of soap/water - let them dry in sunlight for several days. sprayed with Fabreze when I reassembled them. 5. Sprayed Fabreze on "mouse fur" on sides of interior - didnt' clean this, but the Fabreze seemed to work. two years ago, no problems, no diesel smell.
I had that problem when I bought my boat - here's what I did. 1. Made sure there were no leaks in fuel system - had to put new banjo washers and fuel pump gasket to stop seepage onto hot engine. 2. Cleaned entire engine and engine compartment with foam engine cleaner from auto parts store. 3. Scrubbed bilge multiple times with biodegradable cleaner. 4. Removed cushions, washed covers, washed foam cushions with lots of soap/water - let them dry in sunlight for several days. sprayed with Fabreze when I reassembled them. 5. Sprayed Fabreze on "mouse fur" on sides of interior - didnt' clean this, but the Fabreze seemed to work. two years ago, no problems, no diesel smell.
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