Spilled Gasoline in my trunk of my Challenger - SOLUTION?

[Perfracer]

Yeah. Hopefully it won't be too much of a pain to get the stuff out of there. Make sure to scrape with something plastic, and not metal, or aluminum, as to not scrape up the metal in the trunk. Goo Gone, or WD40 should help get rid of any residual deadening material and adhesive left after you get rid of the larger pieces...

[aarcuda]

the gas would probably dissolve the adhesive on that mat.

[BlueMeanie]

USPony is correct,
The key is heat and air, you acerbated the drying / evaporating time by introducing extraneous fluids (water, cleaners), etc.

The gas by itself would have quickly evaporated and the odor dissipated as long as there was warm air circulating, just leaving the trunk open in a heated garage would have done it in a few days.

Don't beat yourself up, s... happens, the smell will eventually go away and your car is and will be just fine.
Replace the damaged mastic and just chalk this up to experience,

Try getting dog vomit out of carpets, or burned wiring odor, you got off lucky.

[antman67]

Originally Posted by BlueMeanie

USPony is correct,
The key is heat and air, you acerbated the drying / evaporating time by introducing extraneous fluids (water, cleaners), etc.

The gas by itself would have quickly evaporated and the odor dissipated as long as there was warm air circulating, just leaving the trunk open in a heated garage would have done it in a few days.

Don't beat yourself up, s... happens, the smell will eventually go away and your car is and will be just fine.
Replace the damaged mastic and just chalk this up to experience,

Try getting dog vomit out of carpets, or burned wiring odor, you got off lucky.

So you think just leaving the trunk open in a heated garage will evaporate the rubber matt that may have got soaked too?

My last car, my friend threw up in the back seat. Every time it rained after that, it reeked no matter what I tried.

[383 RT]

With the mat soaking up the gas, you may want to replace it, I would think it will always be flammable and dangerous even though its dry it should still have residue in it. It sounds like you neutrilized the metal it should be ok, A fire extinguisher may be a good idea also, but dont beat yourself up we all do things we wish we could change.

[BEIST]

The next time something really bad happens to you = reflect on how bad you felt about spilling some gas in your trunk and the struggles of getting the gas smell out of your trunk = I promise it will make you smile and laugh. This will help you through future hard times. Things like this build character. You have to get kicked below the belt a couple of times and punched in the nose to really appreciate life.
Rule #1 Don't sweat the small stuff.
Rule #2 Everything is small stuff.
Meanwhile, leave that trunk open.

If you tell this story twenty years from now, people will probably assume that you were bootlegging $4.00 a gallon gas on a Dukes of Hazard type moonlight run. Let's hope the kids don't have to ask you to describe what it smelled like.

[walnetto]

I highly doubt that the metal will absorb any odor. I'd replace the mat just on general principles. You don't have to get exact parts. See what an auto store sells.

[USponycar]

I didn't realize there was a rubber mat involved. That surely has absorbed gasoline and may have trapped some underneath the edges as well so it will give off fumes in a time release manner. I would seriously consider replacing it.

[antman67]

Leaving the trunk open in the garage has helped. The smell is not as potent as it was, and it is slowly leaving. That black matt is so stuck to the car now, it is like glue. I don't know if I want to introduce any more substances to it. You think if I used a hair dryer would work or is this a bad idea because it might ignite?

[dane714]

Bad idea friend. Do not do that.