How to Get Rid of Gasoline Odor in Your Car

First of all, you should be aware that a little gasoline smell when a cold engine is first started is normal. That’s due to incomplete combustion. But if the gas smell persists even when the engine is warm, you should put your Sherlock hat on and conduct a thorough inspection of the car to pinpoint the culprit.

Most often than not, the odor is caused by a gas spill, in which case you should make sure to get rid of the stain, but sometimes it’s something else. So make sure the gas cap is properly shut and that the evaporative emissions control system is in order. The worst case scenario would be to have gas leaking from the tank, in which case a visit to the mechanic as soon as possible is highly recommended.

Regardless of the cause, the gasoline odor in your car can be quite obnoxious and disruptive, especially when you're forced to spend long hours inside your car, like on a long trip.

You can even get headaches and dizziness if the fumes have a high concentration, but most people will simply get sick, so here are some of the most common ways to get rid of the gasoline smell in your car.

By far, the most inexpensive and most commonly used method is ventilation. This means leaving your car with the doors open for at least 24 hours. The steady airflow in the interior will help evaporate the fumes in the vehicle's interior, thus eliminating the nasty odor. If you're going to consider this, make sure you remove all valuables from the car and also that you don't leave it unattended, even if it's parked in your garage.

Getting an air freshener and driving with the windows down seems to be the most obvious thing to do. Some of the most effective car odor eliminators you can use are bamboo charcoal bags, aerosol sprays, gel odor removers, and plug-in or USB-powered devices.

However, in most cases, covering the nasty smell with a scented spray is not going to be enough, so you'll need extra measures to get rid of the odor. The next step would be to neutralize it. In order to do that, you must find the source. Look at the carpeting in your trunk or within the passenger space, and you're almost certain to find the cause.

After you do that, you can use plenty of shampoo and water to lessen the damage done by the gasoline. Sometimes, if the stain is small, that will be enough to kill the smell, but in bad cases, even after thoroughly washing the carpet, you still get that funky scent that some people actually enjoy.

A good tip, one that truckers have been using for a while, is to add a ground coffee mix directly on the spot and leave it there for a week or so. The reason for that is that coffee contains a series of oils that absorb odors in general, not just gasoline. There is no need for expensive coffee, even the cheapest brand will do and it won't even leave a stain on the carpet, so there is no danger.

Another odor-neutralizing substance is baking soda, and lots of it, too. Sprinkle some on the spot and leave it overnight. The next day, brush it off, and you can then vacuum the rest. The smell should be gone, and you're free to drive around all day without feeling sick to your stomach after just a few miles.

Since gasoline is an oily product, you can also try out some dishwashing liquid. This has the chemical composition to break down the oil and it should work like a charm in eliminating the odor as well. For better results, apply directly on the stain and let it soak.

You might even try an older “recipe,” which involves some apple cider vinegar, water, and a spray bottle. Or you can use white vinegar, which contains up to 10% acetic acid, making it highly effective in removing odorous gasoline traces. After you combine the two substances, the method requires you to spray a fine mist on the carpet or upholstery and other adjacent parts and let the mixture leak into the surface for about 20 minutes. Afterward, dry the surface with a clean rag. When using this method, you might want to leave your car with the windows open overnight.

If you're too busy or don't have enough faith in these old-fashioned methods, you can always go for a specialized car interior cleaning substance. Carefully read the instructions, to make sure it's appropriate for your car's upholstery, before you go headlong into spraying that all over the inside of your vehicle.

Since not all car carpets are made from the same materials, only some of the methods above will probably work for you, so it's best to try each one before giving up and going to a professional interior detailer, which is obviously the best, but also the most expensive solution.

Finally, regardless of the method you choose to apply, make sure to use protective measures. Gasoline fumes can cause damage to your eyes, skin irritation, and respiratory problems, so make sure to use a pair of protective glasses, gloves, and a surgical mask when trying to remove gasoline stains in your car.