Interior Smell Help

[55 Fargo]

Hey all, a few years back, not knowing enough, a tiny bit more now.

What I did was spray rubberized undercoating inside the doors, on the floors, and inside the roof.

I have insulation and carpet on the floor, door panels and poly sheeting on the doors, but have not got my headliner installed yet.

This stuff, the rubber undercoating stinks up the car, especially when it is out side and in the warm sun.

Should I paint over it?

Will the ez cool insulation and headliner seal out the smell?

Any suggestions and/or ideas, and no Don C, I am not going to cut off the roof.........Fred

[Don Coatney]

Try this.

[55 Fargo]

Do you have something like this for someone's mouth who "rides shotgun", and keeps voicing there concerns. Not saying Wives do that sorta thing.........LOL

[randroid]

Fred,

You could soak it in ammonia. When the smell of the ammonia finally dissipates you might welcome the old smell back.

I would think that some sort of sealant would do the trick but you'd need to research what is compatible with the specific type of undercoating. I'm surprised Don didn't tell you that.

-Randy

[Jim Saraceno]

Do you have something like this for someone's mouth who "rides shotgun", and keeps voicing there concerns. Not saying Wives do that sorta thing.

Is this what you're looking for?

Unfortunately I have no suggestions for the smell. If it hasn't dissipated in several years, I wouldn't think it ever would. You may need to scrape it all off.

[Young Ed]

Hide some arm n hammer under the seat?

[greg g]

How abou coating that with some truck bed lier to seal it. That stuff is ment to get hot in direct sun and not be olfactorily offensive.

[1947PLEVY]

Fred:

How about trying some dryer sheets under the seats and in the trunk..or maybe spraying with frebreeze.... John

[Plymouthy Adams]

I waited till I got home to answer this as I would not want to go from memory but I was pretty certain of what I had read long ago when using rubberized undercoating and sure enough, on the can, the directions clearly states not to be used in interior compartments or the trunk..(two different makers of this product on hand, same warning)

as you already have the headliner in..odds of getting that sealed..going to be a hassle..if possible at all...other than removing the product as best you can then try to seal..I do not think I would try to use the bed liner..that stuff requires a good prepared surface to properly adhere..the undercoating with its mostly semi hardened state of petroleums..not a chance to set up in my book..there is a slim chance the cool seal for the trailer roofs may be somewhat useful...I did use the cool seal on the roof mastic in my car...it cured well prior to any trim panels or carpet going on...

[Charlie Olson]

Being a really cool guy in a really hot state, I did a Google search on your behalf and found several remedies for your situation. I entered : sealing rubberized coatings.

No thanks necessary, that is just the kind of great, standup, helpful and modest type of person I am.

Charlie Olson in Plymazona

[55 Fargo]

I waited till I got home to answer this as I would not want to go from memory but I was pretty certain of what I had read long ago when using rubberized undercoating and sure enough, on the can, the directions clearly states not to be used in interior compartments or the trunk..(two different makers of this product on hand, same warning)

as you already have the headliner in..odds of getting that sealed..going to be a hassle..if possible at all...other than removing the product as best you can then try to seal..I do not think I would try to use the bed liner..that stuff requires a good prepared surface to properly adhere..the undercoating with its mostly semi hardened state of petroleums..not a chance to set up in my book..there is a slim chance the cool seal for the trailer roofs may be somewhat useful...I did use the cool seal on the roof mastic in my car...it cured well prior to any trim panels or carpet going on...

Well this stuff is paintable rubberized rockerguard coating.

I suppose I can brush on the Tremclad, that may encapsulate it.

I have no headliner in the car yet, so will paint over it, unless this is bad idea. Then will cover entire roof surface with ez-cool sound insulation. Tape all joints, and see what happens, this I can do even before a headliner install.

Thanx everyone for the posts, live and learn, know better on this for next time.......Fred

[Plymouthy Adams]

if at all possible..I think I would try to use a puddy knife and remove as much in the roof as possible...this residue cleans up real nice with solvent..be sure you take the seats out and cover the floor and panels..

[Edward Roberts]

And if you go the route of removing the undercoating material, there are some mechanical as well as chemical suggestions here:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/removing-rubber-undercoating-52843.html

If the stuff you used is petroleum based and still smells after so long, that means it is off-gassing, producing fumes that can't be very good for the old grey matter. There will be no way to mask the smell as it is not a set in odor, but one that is still being produced. And I personally would worry about a sealer's ability to keep everything in that needs to stay in... or out as the case may be. Of course, it's easy for me to suggest removing the stuff as I wouldn't be doing it

I'd probably just buy a HAZMAT suit and some driving gloves.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you ever try explaining to the arresting officer that you had the hazmat suit on becuase all your other clothes just happen to be in laundry...even the lack of underwear did not help concrete my explaination..We've heard them all kid..get in the the car...

[Edward Roberts]

Well, I don't know what yer highfalutin HAZMAT suits look like in Georgia, but here in North Alabama nobody gives 'em a second look - it's a long sleeve flannel shirt and bib overalls. Heck, my grandmother used to wear that on her Sunday drive to the tobacky store!

[faucet47custom]

I have to deal with all kind of funky odors dealing with carpet cleaning, and I am an officially certified odor control specialist. Now to tell you what I might know that can help.

The off gassing that you are getting is a contually ongoing process, as far as the fumes being harmful is doubtful in small quantities. From my experiences you're best results will be coating over the undercoating, it is repaintable and shouldn't be difficult since it is clean and on interior surfaces. You just want to make sure that you are covering it with a non-porous paint. We actually use oil-based primer on sub floors to "seal" in pet urine odors. This is very effective in stopping the odor. You may also be able to use some of the Dyna-mat products, or I believe it is Lizard Skin that sells a spray on system. Anything that will cover and seal in the undercoating. No need to scrape and start over.

[JoelOkie]

Fred I think I would try painting over it.........if that doesn't work it probably won't make it much harder to scrape it all off if you have to go that way. I've covered some pretty nasty crap with KILZ. Joel

Edited June 2, 2010 by JoelOkie

[Edward Roberts]

The dangers of off-gassing are cumulative. While a small quantity doesn't represent much danger, the effects over time can add up. I've known many a fellow former fire investigator who has died of brain cancer due to these effects. From undercoating inside a car? No, not that I'm aware of. But as a Certified HAZMAT Supervisor I was inclined to perform a quick review of the MSDS on one of these products (don't know the exact brand name we are talking about here). Nasty stuff when being applied. Be warned that the MSDS does not cover what happens during pyrolysis, which is the change in chemical composition of a material due to the application of heat, whether it be from a flame or from months or years of baking inside a hot vehicle or heating up on the passenger compartment side of a firewall.

Again, I'm not suggesting this stuff will kill you, but I think every individual needs to consider the risks and make that decision for himself. I don't know of any long-term studies, but if the product warns not to apply inside a passenger compartment... well, I'm not volunteering to test it. Don't want those chemicals affecting the taste of my cigars.

[Joe Flanagan]

Fred, next time you come across some road kill, just pick it up and hurl it in the back seat. After a while you'll forget about the rubber smell. In fact, you'll wish you had it back.

[Flatie46]

Fred, next time you come across some road kill, just pick it up and hurl it in the back seat. After a while you'll forget about the rubber smell. In fact, you'll wish you had it back.

Now that's funny. Look on the the bright side you can take the misses out on a date and be very flatulent and she wont notice, but if she does just blame it on the coating.

[Plymouthy Adams]

my butt....blame it on the misses herself..that's why you have them near...to take the blame..if they in the boat..put them up front so they can throw out any snake that falls in..you not from the south are ya boy?

[Flatie46]

my butt....blame it on the misses herself..that's why you have them near...to take the blame..if they in the boat..put them up front so they can throw out any snake that falls in..you not from the south are ya boy?

Haa haa, love going to the grocery store and quickly having to exit an isle after blaming it on her. The boat tricks a new one to me but I like it.

[55 Fargo]

The dangers of off-gassing are cumulative. While a small quantity doesn't represent much danger, the effects over time can add up. I've known many a fellow former fire investigator who has died of brain cancer due to these effects. From undercoating inside a car? No, not that I'm aware of. But as a Certified HAZMAT Supervisor I was inclined to perform a quick review of the MSDS on one of these products (don't know the exact brand name we are talking about here). Nasty stuff when being applied. Be warned that the MSDS does not cover what happens during pyrolysis, which is the change in chemical composition of a material due to the application of heat, whether it be from a flame or from months or years of baking inside a hot vehicle or heating up on the passenger compartment side of a firewall.

Again, I'm not suggesting this stuff will kill you, but I think every individual needs to consider the risks and make that decision for himself. I don't know of any long-term studies, but if the product warns not to apply inside a passenger compartment... well, I'm not volunteering to test it. Don't want those chemicals affecting the taste of my cigars.

This stuff is not apshalt ype undercoating, it is paintabel rocker guard coating based with naptha,toluene and mineral spirits, much like many rust paints.

It has a mild odor when warm, I am going to ther cover over it, or paint on a coat of Tremclad rust enamel. Infact I have done a test spot, it paints over well.

The product label, and instructions do not warn about innner cavity usage. It is fully cure in 24 to 48 hours, then paintable right over.

I will try a few things first and see where it's at, if nothing works, will as per Tim Adams scrape it off.

Painted over, then sealed with a insualtion sound deadener, then a headliner, may work..........Fred

[55 Fargo]

Fred I think I would try painting over it.........if that doesn't work it probably won't make it much harder to scrape it all off if you have to go that way. I've covered some pretty nasty crap with KILZ. Joel

KILZ is beastly stuff, used it a number of times years ago in fire jobs....

[cwcars88]

I also undercoated the in side of my model "A" when I built it, let it set for a month, put on a second coat, let it set for another month. painted the body complete inside and out with automotive paint. It has been a good sound deaden-er. That was almost 30 years ago, never did have any smell may be I was just lucky that I sealed it with paint.