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#1
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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?
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Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#2
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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. Last edited by Blacky; 08-30-2015 at 06:36 PM. |
#3
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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.
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#4
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Re: Old car smell
^^^ I lol'd.
My vote is musty carpets.
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1995 Caterham 7 Twincam 2002 Porsche 911 targa -- now with FSI 4.0L power! 2007 BMW 328i Cabriolet 2012 Tacoma 4wd v6 Access Cab 2013 Mercedes E350 4Matic Wagon 2005 STi - totaled after 10 great years 1994 SVX LSi 5spd - sold but not forgotten 2000 Legacy GT 5spd sedan - gone after 150K miles of bliss |
#5
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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
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Cheers! Gordon 1997 Ebony #308 113k "The Black Diva"SOLD 1992 Black over Liquid Silver 152k SOLD 1992 Ebony 251k 444 SOLD 1999 Silver SLK230 134k SOLD 1997 Green Outback 137k SOLD 2013 Honda Accord I4 SOLD 2015 Subaru Crosstrek 30k 2018 Tesla M3 30k |
#6
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Re: Old car smell
I keep a small container (3"x3") of the Ozium gel in the trunk.
Ozium Gel 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. .
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. Subaru Ambassador 1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995..... Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan In-Service Date: January 2, 1997 "The Pristine Green Polo Machine” First Polo Green on the Network First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000) First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007) First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013) HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler. R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016 2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles. Plenty of parts, service and windshields. 4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001 My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX . . |
#7
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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 |
#8
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Re: Old car smell
Buy a new set of leather covers from Motorsports Warehouse.
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1992 LSL ebony pearl 170k - Thank you Ron Mummert Reading Box of Wine Car ----------------------------------- 1992 SVX LSL 5-Speed Sold at 180K 2019 1995 SVX Lsi Polo Sold at 118K 2007 |
#9
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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.
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Jackie Annapolis Subaru 149 Old Solomon's Island Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 443-837-1422 www.AnnapolisSubaru.com Jackie.Whetzler@AnnapolisSubaru.com |
#10
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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?
__________________
Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#11
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Re: Old car smell
Jackie,
How do you start the car halfway through the aqua tab treatment without breathing in the chlorine gas? Tony
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Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#12
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Re: Old car smell
I love the smell of chlorine in the morning. Smells like victory.
Oh, I mean napalm. |
#13
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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.
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Jackie Annapolis Subaru 149 Old Solomon's Island Rd Annapolis, MD 21401 443-837-1422 www.AnnapolisSubaru.com Jackie.Whetzler@AnnapolisSubaru.com Last edited by SubaruPartsGirl; 09-01-2015 at 07:03 AM. |
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