How do you get skunk out of a radiator?

[Croc]

um....unfortunately he is no longer alive but got diced and sliced when I hit him dead center this afternoon at 75mph on the Palisades parkway. He popped out from under the SUV I was following and that streak of white fur made me freeze in horror so no avoidance taken.

 

I will need to buy a new 7 grille to replace the one he is now wearing....

Also need to do some fiberglassing where the grille ripped out...

 

At least I know the last thing that went through his mind when he saw my Seven bearing down on him.............. his a***!

 

I removed the nosecone and pressure washed everything, poured tomato juice over everything and I am letting the car marinate while I have a stiff drink and consider next steps.

 

Any ideas?

[slngsht]

probably just take it off the car and wash it down from the back side. Glad the damage was not any more.

[lowflyer]

Many years ago my dog got skunked and it was not pretty.

 

He was a Sheltie (miniature Collie) and had long hair. Everything in the house stunk. Skunk odor is actually an oil, and until you get rid of the oil the odor will remain.

 

I tried the tomato juice, but it had only a small effect. I found, at a janitorial supply house, a product called Nilium. It's a desecant - a product that actually eats odors, not just masks them.

 

You mix the Nilium with water in a spray bottle and spray the entire area. Inside the house it can be used on virtually any surface, carpets, drapes, furniture, whatever. It has a pleasant "fruity" smell which goes away within about an hour and leaves... nothing. No odor at all.

 

I also used it on a rental house that had been occupied by a smoker for two years. It took three applications but within 24 hours - no odors.

 

I also have used it in a carpet shampoo machine, works great. A quart bottle is about $7 or $8.00 and mixes up gallons with water. BTW, this is the same stuff that is used in public restrooms, such as airports, bus and train stations. Good stuff! Not generally available at "normal" stores, so check industrial cleaning supply houses, janitorial supply houses.

[pi7ot]

That was a F*******ck... moment.

 

Maybe a power steam spray from the back side of the radiator to remove the mincemeat, followed by a couple of cans of brake cleaner. Don't inhale the fumes of the latter...Nasty stuff.

 

m

[Mondo]

wife ran over a skunk last year... chunks of hair up under the car. Took it to the spray wash twice and just sufferred for a couple weeks until the smell went away;(

[MHKflyer52]

Have to agree with Lowflyer.

Nilium Water Soluble Cleaner is the easiest way to get rid of the smell and it works.

I at one time I owned a auto detail shop and we used it all the time on the inside of the vehicles to remove oders even after cleaning especially on dealer trade in's.

Works especially well when used with hot water.

[Croc]

Thank you all for the many suggestions - I found them very useful.

 

I ended up removing the radiator just to get better access. Then it was a power steam spray all over radiator and the front of the car, etc just to be sure that nothing was left.

 

Then it was a spray down with a mix of 1 quart 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and 1 teaspoon liquid soap or dish detergent, folllowed by another thorough steam spray rinse. I got this tip from the Orkin man I know.

 

At this point things were smelling better so I used the Nilium and hot water to finish the job. That is good stuff - surprised by how well it worked.

 

But I could still smell skunk....so after a hunt I discovered it was coming from the horn. The little devil got inside there too!! So I chucked the old horn and bought a new one at Napa and have that installed now.

 

The nose cone was fixed by a body work shop that specializes in Lotus and that is due back to me this weekend. I picked up a new Seven grille and the fixings from Caterham South UK when I was in London for a business trip on Wed and brought back hand luggage (that got some strange looks in Heathrow going through security).

 

Reassembly this weekend (or next week) and I am back on the road springtime fresh!

 

Oh and I am installing one of those animal whistle doo dads inside the nose cone to warn the critters I am coming ....next time.

[BruceBowker]

Hope you'll make the June 13th drive odorless!