Getting rid of gasoline odor in car

[twinbopilot]

Ran out of gas the other day due to to a bad fuel level sensor line. Fault code says "grounded to body" but thats for another thread. Gas can was put in trunk for ride home. It was one of the new style cans with the spring loaded pour nozzle (don't get me started on how much I hate those things!) So on the way home the can turned over and leaked out that retarded spring-loaded pour nozzle. Now my car reeks of gasoline! I removed the trunk liner, spare tire, etc and washed out the trunk. I hosed off the trunk liner and let it sit in the sun to dry. I haven't even reinstalled anything back into the trunk but the car still smells like gas. I loved the smell of my Cadillac - it was one of my favorite things about the car, but I'm afraid I ruined it with this gas spill. It wasn't much gas - maybe a gallon at most - but after a few days it still reeks. I leave my trunk open and windows cracked when the car is parked at my house.

Does anyone have any suggestions to remove the gas odor?

[Ranger]

I had a similar thing happen several years ago. I washed the liner real good with soap and water and flushed it very well with a garden hose. Like wise washed the trunk with soapy water, rinsed and dried well. After letting the liner dry in the sun all day it never smelled again. Get rid of the source and the interior smell will go away.

[twinbopilot]

Thanks Ranger for giving me hope! Maybe I'm silly, but I really enjoy the smell of a Cadillac interior. Better than Lincoln, MB, BMW, etc IMHO. I'll wash the liner with soap and water and do the trunk again. I just sprayed 409 and wiped it with a towel the first time. I'll do it again more thoroughly just to be safe.

[rlphbgby]

I had this happen to me once in my 83 Buick Electra. My brother took it to the car wash and hosed it down with soapy water and sucked it out with the VAC (shame on him). It still stank for awhile after that but the smell will fade trust me. It just takes some time.

[Freakzilla]

I recently left a gallon of milk in my trunk and forgot about it until the smell started. I didn't realize what it was (I thought the kids had left a sippy cup somewhere) until I went to fill up my gas can and saw the exploded gallon milk jug.

I took everything out including the spare and sprinkled the carpet with powdered laundry detergent and hit it with the hose, I did the same with the carpet and spare tire lid in the driveway, then used the shop-vac to suck up the excess.

That got rid of most of it.

Try not to get the electronics on the back wall of the trunk wet.

[twinbopilot]

I'm happy to report that the odor is gone! It took a couple of weeks after washing everything as described above. Thanks Cadillac Forum members!