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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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 Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 9:07 pm Post subject: Gas smell removal |
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I had to swap a fuel pump on a van this weekend and the tank had more fuel in it than i anticipated. Gas sprayed everywhere until i covered the outlet with my thumb but while doing so i had fuel pour all the way down my arm to my torso. Several baths and several applications of fast orange didn't knock down the smell. What worked was smearing baking soda all over my arm/torso followed by pouring vinegar on it, as it bubbled i smeared it around like soap and rinsed and repeated a few times. I ran out of vinegar so substituted lemon juice the last round. The smell was barely noticeable on the last round, if you ever run into this problem give it a try.
The fuel tank access point in the vanagon lends itself to this problem unlike my aircooled vws.. |
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 1559
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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Immediate rinsing with cold water is important. You dont want the fuel to absorb into your skin.
dont rinse with warm water, use cold. cold will keep your pores closed and reduce the fuel absorption. warm or hot water will open your pores and thus allow rapid absorption.
soap will help remove the oily part of the fuel, again use cold water.
Wear safety glasses as fuel will burn the eyes. |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2023 10:40 pm Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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Yeah, that's quite a challenge to remove. Same with the smell of PB Blaster. It got so I could no longer stand the smell, which is really saying something since I've spent a lifetime as a hobby mechanic around all kinds of chemicals used in the automotive world. Just one day I couldn't take it anymore. Switched to Liquid Wrench when I found it beat PB in several tests. Even beat my pricey Kroil!!
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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DuncanS
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2013
Posts: 4583
Location: New Hampshire
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| Yeah......... Same with the smell of PB Blaster. It got so I could no longer stand the smell.... Just one day I couldn't take it anymore. Switched to Liquid Wrench when I found it beat PB in several tests. |
I had a clutch release problem as the tranny bearings for the fork pivot were seizing. Kept some PB on top of the frame near the charcoal canister and it was held in by some hoses. The stink even got inside and finally I tossed it. Glad to hear LW is better as I'll get rid of it in the garage too.
Duncan |
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Igeo
Samba Member
Joined: September 25, 2018
Posts: 888
Location: Oakland, CA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 7:11 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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Man, I'm with you guys with regards to PB Blaster. Can't take it anymore. I think it has something to do with association too. I usually am struggling with some frozen parts when I use it. We won't even talk about spraying it on something that has been heated with a torch!
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1987 Westfalia 2.1 WBX Manual |
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MarkWard
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17115
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 10:57 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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When working with fuel systems overhead, I wrap both wrists with a shop rag just in case. Does a good job keeping fuel out of your armpits.
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 7916
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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| zerotofifty wrote: |
| Wear safety glasses as fuel will burn the eyes. |
Something that we don't ever think about, but let my dad's experience with this be a warning: If you are below fuel lines and such, wear ear protection. Long story short, gasoline spurted out of the fuel line he was laying under and a little bit got into his ears, causing excruciating pain, that a trip to the ER couldn't resolve (three hours of painfully wasted time  ).
Do not ever get gasoline in your ears!
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~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32584
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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syncrodoka
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005
Posts: 12005
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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| djkeev wrote: |
| Live with it. |
That is horrible advise, i hope that was a bad attempt at humor. Thankfully others have provided good input. |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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No - thats why I mentioned it. Using it for long periods seemed to get me LESS able to deal with PB. On skunks, its funny. I think they are a welcome sign of summer - and rather enjoy a faint to moderate whiff of it on a warm summer night. My wife - not at all. Weird I rarely see one - like every ten years. But clearly they are around.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16501
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| No - thats why I mentioned it. Using it for long periods seemed to get me LESS able to deal with PB. On skunks, its funny. I think they are a welcome sign of summer - and rather enjoy a faint to moderate whiff of it on a warm summer night. My wife - not at all. Weird I rarely see one - like every ten years. But clearly they are around. |
Red fox 🦊 have a musk that reminds me of skunk.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
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mikemtnbike
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2795
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Gas smell removal |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| FWIW I find that straight Simple Green seems to work very well. |
Agreed. I'm sure it's probably bad for me somehow too, but this works as well as anything else I've tried.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
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