Old car smell
 

Ok, one issue that I want to address on this car is the old car smell. I think it is the smell of aging foam and plastic. Anyone ever had success dealing with this? Anyone know the most likely culprit? Seat cushions? Headliner? Carpets? Dash?

Re: Old car smell
 

In our family we just call it "The SVX Smell". All 3 smell the same.

Most of the smell is likely from the carpets. Did you ever take old carpeting out of a house. It's dirty, disgusting and filthy. A car sees more dirt per square inch and is wet more often.

I find the trunk usually smells more damp and musty. Likely because it's usually closed up and doesn't get a chance to air out.

Re: Old car smell
 

Just got an SVX that was made in 91. I love the smell of this car. It's like when people associate smells in their house as home, I get in this car and instantly that musty leathery smell welcomes me into the car as the automatic seatbelt happily glides over my shoulder. Smells great! That is, until, the smoke starts to rise up from the drivers side of the engine compartment and it smells like burning chemicals or oil when I'm at a stoplight after driving the car for a distance.

Re: Old car smell
 

^^^ I lol'd. :)

My vote is musty carpets.

Re: Old car smell
 

Spraying all the carpets with "Ozium" and letting the car air out (preferably in the sun) will help. Treating the seats with Gliptone leather conditioner will add a new "leather" smell to counteract the "old" leather smell :)

Re: Old car smell
 

I keep a small container (3"x3") of the Ozium gel in the trunk.

Ozium Gel

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...SR160,160_.jpg


Since the car is garaged a lot, with the trunk closed and little air circulation, this counteracts any odors.

Also one on the floor on the passenger side. I like being able to adjust the vents on the jar to control how much is released.

.

Re: Old car smell
 

Ozone treatment.

I trust this is something in the category "do not try this at home".....

Find an old street lamp (quick silver vapor type) - the whole thing, not just the big bulb.

Fix duct tape around the bulb, break the outermost layer of glass carefully in a vice. Remove the broken glass and duct tape carefully.

Screw the bulb in the lamp and place the whole inside the vehicle (outdoors) on some fire proof material and close doors. I reclined the rear seat back and put the whole thing on it.

DO NOT LOOK AT THE LIGHT DIRECTLY

Let the lamp burn overnight and voila..........

The high energy radiation of the lamp produces a ton of ozone and all smells are gone.

/T

Re: Old car smell
 

Buy a new set of leather covers from Motorsports Warehouse.

Re: Old car smell
 

You might try to clean the vents as well. Subaru offers a "Climate Control" Kit for this purpose, two cans of stuff, one for the cowl panel air inlet and the other you squirt up the drain tube for the evap system. It worked surprisingly well in my car and lasted quite a while, has a pretty fresh scent.

Second, the carpets for sure. If you're really energetic you can remove it from the car, shampoo it, let it dry completely and reinstall. Otherwise I use a can of upholstery cleaner on everything and then take some of the 2X Febreeze and just about hose it down, let it dry out and then close the car back up.

Third, and probably the last option but it certainly works. Aqua-Tabs, you drop one in a small cup of water, set it in the cup holder and let it fizzle for a few hours. About half way through you turn the car on, turn on the heat or AC and let it cycle through. Afterwards the car smells like a pool but it eventually subsides and the car smells fresh. We use it to remove smoke smell from used cars it works very well. It literally kills any chance of stink anywhere. You can't drive the car while it's being fumed though and I highly suggest letting it air out for a few hours afterward before you drive it. It's nasty stuff but it really does work. If it can kill cigarette smell it will definitely kill any musty odors lingering around.

Re: Old car smell
 

Thanks everyone. It is nice to see you on here Jackie. Can I order that kit through you?

It sounds like everyone is suggesting a form of oxidation from chlorine gas to ozmium to ozone generation. I did ozone bomb the car when I first got it. I think it helped a little but never completely got rid of the smell. I wouldn't say the smell is musty. I would say it smells more like old foam cushions that are breaking down due to age and temperature cycles.

Now, the smell coming from the vents is truly musty. Smells like a$$. The kit Jackie mentioned should address that issue.

On the carpets, is there a recommended cleaner for a purpose like this?

Re: Old car smell
 

Jackie,

How do you start the car halfway through the aqua tab treatment without breathing in the chlorine gas?

Tony

Re: Old car smell
 

I love the smell of chlorine in the morning. Smells like victory.

Oh, I mean napalm.

Re: Old car smell
 

The best answer is...quickly. I hold my breath, cover my face, squint my eyes, hop in and turn it on and crank up the climate system. It's strong smelling but it's not so strong that you need a gas mask or anything like that plus you have the door open while doing it so you aren't completely fumigating yourself.

We can sell the climate kit, it's $15 for the kit however when ordering that alone it may not be worth the shipping as we have to send it through UPS or FedEx Ground which runs $10-$15 depending on your location. You may want to check and see what the local dealers are selling it for.