Gas Oders

[solidaxel]

I filled up the tank yesterday AM and in the afternoon it expanded and ran down the side of the cab and the seal on the gas neck is a little loose and some went into the cab onto the carpet and now it smells like shlt in the truck.
How do I get rid of this nasty oder, I want my leather smell back!!!
I am going to replace the seal as it is only three years old but after close inspection it is not tight to the neck and is weather cracking. We don't have much rust in So Arizona but the sun and heat takes its toll on fabric and rubber parts!!

[CAL 58 GMC]

Man that sucks. All you can do other then replacing the carpet is let it air out and then clean the carpet. Good luck man!

[solidaxel]

Somebody on one of the other boards said to use some Vinilla extract, so I am going to get a bottle and try that! I hope that brings my leather smell back!!

[entourageguy]

either that or your truck will smell like an ice cream cone..

[Fred T]

Best way I know of is to leave the truck open in the heat and let it evaporate.

Get some new connection hoses from one of the vendors. You will have to drain the tank so you can move it to install the hoses.

[Daniel U]

When I first bought/drove my '54, I was fairly illiterate to tools and mechanics. I drove mine for 2 1/2 years with a fuel odor and hated the head aches. I hope everything works out. Ever consider relocating it to the rear under the bed. I'm sure you've wieghed all your options when you restored/rebuilt your truck. That was the main reason I relocated though. Sorry about the spill/leak. Good luck and keep us posted.

[solidaxel]

.......... O K, I found the problem, or where the gas was coming from. The NEW seal that was replaced around the filler neck has shrunk enough to let in liquid, GASOLINE into the truck ano on the carpet. I have ordered a new seal (from Steele Rubber) and I have already replaced the new cap. These items were 3 years old when the truck was rebuilt, I don't remember where I bought them from but I have been happy with the weather seals on the doors and glass that I bought from Steele so we will try this and check in two years.

[chip46wis]

Stuff the area with newspapers replace again in a couple of days-Ive seen that work on a freezer that everything rotted in-it works!!!!!!

[oldblu65]

I've been told the best way to get rid of odors in a vehicle is to put a small bowl of vinegar in the floorboard and close the doors and windows for a few days . I don't know if this would work with gasoline fumes but would be easy and cheap to try !

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

.......... O K, I found the problem, or where the gas was coming from. The NEW seal that was replaced around the filler neck has shrunk enough to let in liquid, GASOLINE into the truck ano on the carpet. I have ordered a new seal (from Steele Rubber) and I have already replaced the new cap. These items were 3 years old when the truck was rebuilt, I don't remember where I bought them from but I have been happy with the weather seals on the doors and glass that I bought from Steele so we will try this and check in two years.

..................... U P D A T E,
The new Steele Rubber gas filler rubber is is place and the seal is much tighter and now if I have another eruption (SP) of gas it will only run down the side of the cab and onto the running board and not into the cab.
This seal is like the other products I have bought from Steele Rubber it feels like better bubber and is more pliable but stiff as compared to the 3 year old one..
I will monitor this for the next 3 years and see if it gets hard and loses its shape, by that time I will need to replace the carpet!!
This Hi Teat fuel I am using that ran down onto the running board looks like it melted some of the clear coat and it looks like someone spilled carmel on the board. I tried to remove it with wax and a cleaner but it did nothing, maybe ry to sand it with some 2k grit and buff it!!

[mylow53]

last time i painted my 53 15 years ago some gas ran down the side of the truck and sat on my running board for a couple of days. the paint bubbled and peeled off... so be careful who knows the paint may have been more suseptable to that stuff back then as well
GT

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

.......... O K, I found the problem, or where the gas was coming from. The NEW seal that was replaced around the filler neck has shrunk enough to let in liquid, GASOLINE into the truck ano on the carpet. I have ordered a new seal (from Steele Rubber) and I have already replaced the new cap. These items were 3 years old when the truck was rebuilt, I don't remember where I bought them from but I have been happy with the weather seals on the doors and glass that I bought from Steele so we will try this and check in two years.

A little "Update" the grommet has done its job for many years and I have had gas expand and overflow but it has never entered the cab!
I can not say the same for the side of the truck under the filler neck and the running board.
It is noticeable but I am sure it could be "buffed out"
I guess i was a little off on the timeframe!

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Somebody on one of the other boards said to use some Vinilla extract, so I am going to get a bottle and try that! I hope that brings my leather smell back!!

I have been using the Vanilla Extract trick and have to say it works the best!
Rather smell ice cream then the gas smell! seems any time i work around something with gas i get it on my hands, just poor it on my hands and leave it
there, WAY better Smell then Gas.

Allen

[nvrdone]

ive used a product called "cancel" - its a liquid spray that I found at a carpet cleaning store. kills gas smell, dog pee, etc. but I may try the vanilla extract next time

[joedoh]

haha eight years later! way to follow up.

gas is petroleum and will never completely evaporate, I have pulled the carpet and used Dawn dish soap at the local jet wash, I bought a nissan once that a family of cats were living in and dish soap at the pressure wash fixed it completely!

[solidaxel]

Actually I was replying about the gromment that I used as there was some question about which one was better than the other.
And Yes the odor has gone away (gasoline) and so has the "new" leather seat smell !!

[mr48chev]

Years late to this party but I found out a long time ago to never top off one of these tanks, Know how much gas you figure it should take to fill it and if the pump kicks off right close to what you figure you are done.

Knowing how many miles to the gallon you average and how far you went makes it easy to figure out how many gallons it should take.

[dsraven]

makes a good argument about why the tanks are under the vehicle nowadays. any chance you could retrofit a tank under yours?

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by dsraven

makes a good argument about why the tanks are under the vehicle nowadays. any chance you could retrofit a tank under yours?

The best argument (other than obvious fire danger) is the fact that Gasoline is known to pose very serious heath risk. The oil industry has so effectively played down the toxic effects for so long (and so well) many think both the liquid or fumes are harmless. FWIW Most true gasoline's consist of Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (and in the olden days) Tetra ethyl lead. Just the Benzene alone. Sorry to say, is a known human carcinogen.

The tank in my 54 was a constant problem and leaked fumes which were only detectable with a hydrocarbon detector. Fuel tanks inside the cabs came from a time we either didn't know or care. Now down under the bed i don't miss it and really appreciate the extra space (and the peace of mind for me and my passengers)

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by dsraven

makes a good argument about why the tanks are under the vehicle nowadays. any chance you could retrofit a tank under yours?

I think Pintos and Mustang had there tank in the back,
Mine is still in the cab and gas has not leaked into the cab since I replaced the filler grommnet

[torchlight]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Actually I was replying about the gromment that I used as there was some question about which one was better than the other.
And Yes the odor has gone away (gasoline) and so has the "new" leather seat smell !!

Someone told me a trick about the new leather smell. Any time you may be hankering to have that again, head to Walmart and buy a cheap new baseball glove and stash it somewhere in your cab. New leather smell once again! (for awhile, anyway)

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

I think Pintos and Mustang had there tank in the back,
Mine is still in the cab and gas has not leaked into the cab since I replaced the filler grommnet

Even with best of seals, measurable "nastys" in Gasoline do build up in the Cab and can be below the threshold of human olfactory response. (no stink) The concentration changes with heat, barometric pressure and airflow. Moving the tank out of the cab just makes sense. As for the new car smell the news is also not good. Many of the products from paint to plastic also emit "nastys" such as vinyl chloride. Don't look it up as it may spoil your day. The good news A) it seems we are 'bio-acclimating" to pollutants and B) no one lives forever. I say move the tank and keep the new car smell.

FWIW: there's a brand new, undriven, $45K car sitting in my garage awaiting the VW buyback of our 2012 PASSAT TDI SEL parked next to it. The latter on its way to the crusher because it gets 50+ MPG. 'Splain that one to me Lucy.