[Roboto]

I took a turn hard and a heavy package in the trunk smashed a bottle of octane booster. The entire bottle leaked all over. I did not figure this out until the next morning when I got in the car and could smell it.

I removed the four panels that were saturated and have tried everything to clean them and get rid of the smell, I have done multiple bathtub soakings with degreaser, oxyclean, dish detergent & laundry detergent with no success. Any stain/odor removal advice would be appreciated to save me the $1400 Irvine BMW quoted me to replace the four trunk panels.

Also, any advice on getting the faint octane smell lingering in my interior out would be great too.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

 

[a_ok2me]

I took a turn hard and a heavy package in the trunk smashed a bottle of octane booster. The entire bottle leaked all over. I did not figure this out until the next morning when I got in the car and could smell it...

That literally stinks. I had a bottle of fuel system cleaner in the trunk. There wasn't a leak, but the odor still seeped from the sealed cap. I had to drive with all the windows down for a few days to rid the smell. It would have helped if I drove with the trunk open, but that would have been weird.

There has to be some kind of product that removes fuel. But, then that stuff might smell too.

Any chemists around here?

Good luck.

 

[Digi]

Contact your auto insurance company. Your comprehensive insurance will set things straight.

 

[greer]

I took a turn hard and a heavy package in the trunk smashed a bottle of octane booster. The entire bottle leaked all over. I did not figure this out until the next morning when I got in the car and could smell it.

I removed the four panels that were saturated and have tried everything to clean them and get rid of the smell, I have done multiple bathtub soakings with degreaser, oxyclean, dish detergent & laundry detergent with no success. Any stain/odor removal advice would be appreciated to save me the $1400 Irvine BMW quoted me to replace the four trunk panels.

Also, any advice on getting the faint octane smell lingering in my interior out would be great too.

Thanks in advance,


Which Octane booster product do you use?

Rob

 

[ard]

I've heard that Ozone generators do a great job with odors. The free oxygen atoms they generate 'latch' on to the odor molecules and get them out of circulation. They are widely used on smoking cars to prepare them for dealer resale.



Contact a detailer who does dealer work.

Although, as I think about it, wouldn't octane booster be a fairly reactive hydrocarbon- that would pretty quickly evaporate? I assume you've removed the panel and had them sitting in the garage- or at the very least have the trunk open in the garage- no sense in risking the entire interior..

good luck

A

 

[dan ok]

use an extraction cleaner with a quality chemical and deodouriser from the prochem range. I had stains in my boot and this method got rid of everything. Ive done this on my diesel peugeot which had oil stains etc...

 

[stuart]

I have found petrol stinks for a couple of days but then just goes (after spilling from a bottle into the back seat of my car, don't ask). I wouldn't fret too much about the cabin smell, my guess is in 1 week you wont be able to notice it. This is dependent on making sure you haven't got any of the fluid pooled in the car anywhere, or it will keep evaporating off double check you got it all.

re the trim, can help you

gl

stu

 

[BKH]

I once had octane booster spill into a heavy canvas bag. After multiple washings in hot water with lots of Tide and Oxyclean it still smelled of petrochemical. I second what ard says though. I have an ozone generator going now in a storage room where I trying to get rid of a similar smell. I suggest doing a search to find a good one and then closing the car up and leaving it on for at least two days. You may be pleasantly surprised. From my experience you have a good shot at knocking it out that way, w/o any unnecessary and potentially harmful cleaning.

I use one made by Sharper Image that runs on four C-cells, which makes it total transportable and very easy to use. That size has sufficient capacity for a small walk-in closet. Although I'm sure there are better ones out there than the SI, I just know that it works. My experience with ozone generators has been good...give it a shot.

 

[Roboto]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked up ozone machines and am considering getting one of them. A friend recommended pouring lighter fluid on the panels to remove the octane boost. Anyone know if that would work?

Thanks again,

Rob

 

[ard]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked up ozone machines and am considering getting one of them. A friend recommended pouring lighter fluid on the panels to remove the octane boost. Anyone know if that would work?

Thanks again,

Rob

You're joking, right?

 

[Kin Mak]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked up ozone machines and am considering getting one of them. A friend recommended pouring lighter fluid on the panels to remove the octane boost. Anyone know if that would work?

Thanks again,

Rob

Lol, does you friend have a Audi and always seem to look at your car a certain way? :hihi:

- Kin

 

[gdoan]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked up ozone machines and am considering getting one of them.

Be careful. You have to use ozone generators carefully. I won't try to explain (mostly because I probably couldn't) but, ozone generators work when the 'extra' oxygen molecule attaches itself to something and causes it to ozidize. This destroys or, at least, alters many odor causing particulates. But, used in excess, it will start to breakdown or cause damage to all manner of things, like plastics.

I used one quite successfully to eliminate smoke oder after an unforunate fireplace incident. There was no visible smoke damage but, even after wiping down ever surface and cleaing everything that could be cleaned in the room, it still smelled pretty strongly of smoke for weeks afterward. A couple of lengthy but monitored ozone sessions and the smell was gone! Worked beautifully.

I'm with the others that think it will breakdown and the smell will likely go away after a few days of airing the car out as best you can. Give it some time and then try the ozone generator, if needed.


Greg
2003 ///M5 Jet Black/Black, Sport
Beastpower Sway Bar Brackets, Bluetooth, Aux Audio Input & all "plus" options except PDC

 

[BKH]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I looked up ozone machines and am considering getting one of them.

Rob - just to report back on my use of the ozone generator on the "gasoline/octane booster" kind of smell I mentioned earlier in this thread. I left it on for four days in a closed room and after turning it off I let the room sit with the door closed for another four days, to test whether the smell returned. I'd say the OG was 90% effective in eliminating the odor, perhaps better than I expected given the tenacious nature of these petrochemical odors.

I did check the Sharper Image website and unfortunately the product I use is no longer carried by them, FWIW.

 

[BKH]

Ignore, double post.