That Old car Smell--- I really hate it -- It Stinks
June 7th, 2012, 08:42 AM
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That Old car Smell--- I really hate it -- It Stinks
Has anyone here had this problem...
I love my 68 Hurst, I love to drive it, but what I really hate is they way my clothes stink after I drive it. I feel grimy as well
The smell is like rich exhaust smell... The car has full exhausts with no leaks, but for many years the car was driven/raced with mufflers and turn downs.
What I need to figure out is how can I get this smell out of the car????
I already changed the carpet many years ago....
Thanks for your help
I love my 68 Hurst, I love to drive it, but what I really hate is they way my clothes stink after I drive it. I feel grimy as well
The smell is like rich exhaust smell... The car has full exhausts with no leaks, but for many years the car was driven/raced with mufflers and turn downs.
What I need to figure out is how can I get this smell out of the car????
I already changed the carpet many years ago....
Thanks for your help
June 7th, 2012, 09:09 AM
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LOL - You can always get your Grandma or your mom to ride in it to give it that lil ol lady smell! All joking aside, check for missing grommets in the floor or firewall. Make sure your trunk seal is good. Check your tune if it's still running rich!
You can put, baking soda and charcoal brickets in there to absorb some of it. Also check with some of the used car dealers around where you are. They have people that come in there to do oder out, mainly for tobacco smells.
You can put, baking soda and charcoal brickets in there to absorb some of it. Also check with some of the used car dealers around where you are. They have people that come in there to do oder out, mainly for tobacco smells.
Last edited by oldcutlass; June 7th, 2012 at 09:16 AM.
June 7th, 2012, 09:13 AM
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June 7th, 2012, 09:17 AM
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This is not enjoyable at all, come home and I feel the need to shower...
I would hate to think I need to replace all the seat foams.......
June 7th, 2012, 09:28 AM
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j/kBaking soda and charcoal can help, also something called Zeolite can help too. You can buy a product called 'Sweet PDZ' that is a granular zeolite used for urine odor in horse stalls. Tack & feed places and places like Murdochs or Tractor supply may have it. Buy a 10# bag for 5 bucks then pour some into some old socks and put them under the seats (Back one too) and see if that helps.
June 7th, 2012, 09:29 AM
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LOL - You can always get your Grandma or your mom to ride in it to give it that lil ol lady smell! All joking aside, check for missing grommets in the floor or firewall. Make sure your trunk seal is good. Check your tune if it's still running rich!
You can put, baking soda and charcoal brickets in there to absorb some of it. Also check with some of the used car dealers around where you are. They have people that come in there to do oder out, mainly for tobacco smells.
You can put, baking soda and charcoal brickets in there to absorb some of it. Also check with some of the used car dealers around where you are. They have people that come in there to do oder out, mainly for tobacco smells.
I re-worded my reply, after rereading your post.
June 7th, 2012, 09:32 AM
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June 7th, 2012, 09:35 AM
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Yes, Old Lady smell would indeed be an improvement! 
I will stop by a used car dealer and ask, thanks..
BTW no missing grommets, and the trunk seal seems tight, maybe I will change that, it is easy enough... who makes the best seal?
I will stop by a used car dealer and ask, thanks..
BTW no missing grommets, and the trunk seal seems tight, maybe I will change that, it is easy enough... who makes the best seal?
June 7th, 2012, 10:09 AM
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June 7th, 2012, 10:13 AM
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Interesting, thanks!
what will happen if I use the baking soda, charcoal, dryer sheets, horse **** remover, coffee, fabreeze, ozium and newspaper all at the same time????? Probably will cancel out each other and car will still smell!
Besides paying off some debt, this would be the main reason for me selling the car... I just do not enjoy it
what will happen if I use the baking soda, charcoal, dryer sheets, horse **** remover, coffee, fabreeze, ozium and newspaper all at the same time????? Probably will cancel out each other and car will still smell!
Besides paying off some debt, this would be the main reason for me selling the car... I just do not enjoy it
June 7th, 2012, 10:20 AM
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I'll offer up more than one word since you seem to have tried everything.
It seems that if it is making your clothes stink, its something that your touching for a period of time, or are being exposed to. Are there seat covers or original material that hold the stink? It could be the foam in the seats and not the material. You could have plugs missing in your firewall allowing smells to come in while driving. Could be possible you need a new trunk seal and allowing exhaust in where it dumps?
It seems that if it is making your clothes stink, its something that your touching for a period of time, or are being exposed to. Are there seat covers or original material that hold the stink? It could be the foam in the seats and not the material. You could have plugs missing in your firewall allowing smells to come in while driving. Could be possible you need a new trunk seal and allowing exhaust in where it dumps?
June 7th, 2012, 10:23 AM
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I'll offer up more than one word since you seem to have tried everything.
It seems that if it is making your clothes stink, its something that your touching for a period of time, or are being exposed to. Are there seat covers or original material that hold the stink? It could be the foam in the seats and not the material. You could have plugs missing in your firewall allowing smells to come in while driving. Could be possible you need a new trunk seal and allowing exhaust in where it dumps?
It seems that if it is making your clothes stink, its something that your touching for a period of time, or are being exposed to. Are there seat covers or original material that hold the stink? It could be the foam in the seats and not the material. You could have plugs missing in your firewall allowing smells to come in while driving. Could be possible you need a new trunk seal and allowing exhaust in where it dumps?
Thank you
June 7th, 2012, 10:48 AM
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Find the source. Old lady and musty odors linger forever, but exhaust goes away pretty fast. Get it tuned, check exhaust system for leaks and any openings into the cabin as all suggested here. Also look for fuel leaks. That said, it will always smell more than a modern car. Wanna trade for a clean smelling 2003 Accord?
June 7th, 2012, 10:54 AM
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June 7th, 2012, 10:57 AM
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It doesn't sound like you're talking about the official "old car smell", the sort of musty one, which I love, but the unfiltered exhaust smell, which I also love. I have a newer car, late-model, with an unfiltered exhaust and well-tuned fuel injection, and I get the same smell in it, the exhaust smell. I think it would pretty much be impossible to get rid of it, short of converting to all electric or natural gas.
In order to limit it somewhat, you may need to dig around like the others have suggested and plug any open holes, etc. I believe that the inside of the car and trunk are under low pressure while the car is in motion, so any exhaust gas directly around the car would have a tendency to be sucked in. I would concentrate on the trunk, maybe there are drain plugs that haven't been installed? Other things to check would be tail and marker light grommets/seals, and the trunk seal itself. Once the exhaust gets into the trunk, it's nothing for it to get sucked into the car. Good luck.
In order to limit it somewhat, you may need to dig around like the others have suggested and plug any open holes, etc. I believe that the inside of the car and trunk are under low pressure while the car is in motion, so any exhaust gas directly around the car would have a tendency to be sucked in. I would concentrate on the trunk, maybe there are drain plugs that haven't been installed? Other things to check would be tail and marker light grommets/seals, and the trunk seal itself. Once the exhaust gets into the trunk, it's nothing for it to get sucked into the car. Good luck.
June 7th, 2012, 12:17 PM
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June 7th, 2012, 12:18 PM
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Interesting, thanks!
what will happen if I use the baking soda, charcoal, dryer sheets, horse **** remover, coffee, fabreeze, ozium and newspaper all at the same time????? Probably will cancel out each other and car will still smell!
Besides paying off some debt, this would be the main reason for me selling the car... I just do not enjoy it
what will happen if I use the baking soda, charcoal, dryer sheets, horse **** remover, coffee, fabreeze, ozium and newspaper all at the same time????? Probably will cancel out each other and car will still smell!
Besides paying off some debt, this would be the main reason for me selling the car... I just do not enjoy it
Then you will have to find some old ladies to ride around with. Seriously get the name of and oder out guy from a used car dealer.
June 7th, 2012, 12:18 PM
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It doesn't sound like you're talking about the official "old car smell", the sort of musty one, which I love, but the unfiltered exhaust smell, which I also love. I have a newer car, late-model, with an unfiltered exhaust and well-tuned fuel injection, and I get the same smell in it, the exhaust smell. I think it would pretty much be impossible to get rid of it, short of converting to all electric or natural gas.
In order to limit it somewhat, you may need to dig around like the others have suggested and plug any open holes, etc. I believe that the inside of the car and trunk are under low pressure while the car is in motion, so any exhaust gas directly around the car would have a tendency to be sucked in. I would concentrate on the trunk, maybe there are drain plugs that haven't been installed? Other things to check would be tail and marker light grommets/seals, and the trunk seal itself. Once the exhaust gets into the trunk, it's nothing for it to get sucked into the car. Good luck.
In order to limit it somewhat, you may need to dig around like the others have suggested and plug any open holes, etc. I believe that the inside of the car and trunk are under low pressure while the car is in motion, so any exhaust gas directly around the car would have a tendency to be sucked in. I would concentrate on the trunk, maybe there are drain plugs that haven't been installed? Other things to check would be tail and marker light grommets/seals, and the trunk seal itself. Once the exhaust gets into the trunk, it's nothing for it to get sucked into the car. Good luck.
June 7th, 2012, 12:20 PM
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Will look for leaks and they spray this stuff and report back
June 7th, 2012, 12:32 PM
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June 7th, 2012, 01:25 PM
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I also hate that exhaust smell. Make sure there are no holes in your floor boards and fire wall. I spoke with a vintage car restorer in my area about this; he said the turbulence created under the car can push exhaust fumes through holes in the floor boards.
June 7th, 2012, 01:46 PM
#36
Sprinkel baking powder all over the interior. Seat, floor, everything. Let it suit for 24 hours, then vacuum it out.
My Delta reeked of cigarette smoke really bad when I bought it. I mean really bad. So bad that one could get lung cancer by just sitting in the car for an hour.
Did the baking powder trick. smell was cut down by 60%, did it again, and got the smell out pretty good.
I'm planning on filling 4 paper cups of baking powder and placing them on each floor board of the car when I go to Michigan next wednesday. 4 to 5 days of that sitting in the car should do wonders
My Delta reeked of cigarette smoke really bad when I bought it. I mean really bad. So bad that one could get lung cancer by just sitting in the car for an hour.
Did the baking powder trick. smell was cut down by 60%, did it again, and got the smell out pretty good.
I'm planning on filling 4 paper cups of baking powder and placing them on each floor board of the car when I go to Michigan next wednesday. 4 to 5 days of that sitting in the car should do wonders
June 7th, 2012, 02:02 PM
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Sprinkel baking powder all over the interior. Seat, floor, everything. Let it suit for 24 hours, then vacuum it out.
My Delta reeked of cigarette smoke really bad when I bought it. I mean really bad. So bad that one could get lung cancer by just sitting in the car for an hour.
Did the baking powder trick. smell was cut down by 60%, did it again, and got the smell out pretty good.
I'm planning on filling 4 paper cups of baking powder and placing them on each floor board of the car when I go to Michigan next wednesday. 4 to 5 days of that sitting in the car should do wonders
My Delta reeked of cigarette smoke really bad when I bought it. I mean really bad. So bad that one could get lung cancer by just sitting in the car for an hour.
Did the baking powder trick. smell was cut down by 60%, did it again, and got the smell out pretty good.
I'm planning on filling 4 paper cups of baking powder and placing them on each floor board of the car when I go to Michigan next wednesday. 4 to 5 days of that sitting in the car should do wonders
June 7th, 2012, 02:39 PM
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the carbon in newsprint works well and is cheap/free. does it smell rich under the hood? are your fresh air vent seals dry-rotted? maybe put an air freshener inside the trunk overnight in the garage. see if you smell the air freshener in the garage the next day without opening the trunk or the car windows. if you do, your trunk is leaking air.
June 7th, 2012, 02:45 PM
#40
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the carbon in newsprint works well and is cheap/free. does it smell rich under the hood? are your fresh air vent seals dry-rotted? maybe put an air freshener inside the trunk overnight in the garage. see if you smell the air freshener in the garage the next day without opening the trunk or the car windows. if you do, your trunk is leaking air.
