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Smelly steering wheel #2461259
03/05/18 12:31 AM
03/05/18 12:31 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
Airgrabber Offline OP
master
Airgrabber  Offline OP
master

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
Any remedies to get rid of the smelly steering wheel syndrome? It must be some type of decomposition of a milk based product. Smells like the old screwdrivers or fishing lures in Grandpa's tackle box! puke

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461265
03/05/18 12:48 AM
03/05/18 12:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
That's because your steering wheel is made of the same stuff. Cellulose Acetate Butyrate. it is a UV resistant and cheap plastic commonly used in the 60's to make plastic interior parts (and many other things) from. In Mopars, brown parts such as steering wheels, shifter balls, pistol grip shifter grips, etc. were made from it. Butyrate often has an acrid/sour odor, it's still a popular injection molding material except todays Butyrate blends have a masking agent added to hide the stink.

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461306
03/05/18 02:08 AM
03/05/18 02:08 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
Airgrabber Offline OP
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Airgrabber  Offline OP
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Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
Thanks 🙏. I thought it could be something like that. I appreciate your explanation! So does anyone have and experience with a particular cleaner or solvent that would eliminate the odor?

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461323
03/05/18 02:57 AM
03/05/18 02:57 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,651
Cut and Shoot, TX
kentj340 Offline
top fuel
kentj340  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,651
Cut and Shoot, TX
Don't leave your window down when there are horses in the area. They'll eat your steering wheel.

https://www.cartalk.com/content/1025-horse-ate-my-steering-wheel

I heard hand lotion will fix a sticky wheel. But stinky? - not sure.

When my screw drivers stink too much I wash them with dish soap, and the odor goes away for about a year.


If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.
Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461324
03/05/18 03:07 AM
03/05/18 03:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
That acrid interior odor many old Mopars have is primarily caused by two things, Butyrate plastic components, and the jute under the carpeting.

Aside from replacing that stuff with something else, or leaving your windows down all the time to allow the smells to dissipate they are released (so they don't build up inside your car) no, there's not much you can do other than mask it with another smell (air fresheners etc.).

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #2461410
03/05/18 12:15 PM
03/05/18 12:15 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
37 little "pine trees" hanging from the mirror should do the trick.......... biggrin
beer

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461548
03/05/18 04:33 PM
03/05/18 04:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 619
nj
J
JAMESDART Offline
mopar
JAMESDART  Offline
mopar
J

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 619
nj
Can you paint these stinky old steering wheels?

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461654
03/05/18 08:42 PM
03/05/18 08:42 PM
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,914
Calgary, Alberta Canada
a12rag Offline
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a12rag  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,914
Calgary, Alberta Canada
If you have removed the source of the smell . . . then get an ozone generator, and leave inside the car with windows up for an hour . . . the ozone combines with the "smell" and burns it . . . had to do that in truck I bought to get rid of "smokers" smell . . . actually did it twice . . .works like a charm . . . got ozone generator off amazon . . .

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: JAMESDART] #2461655
03/05/18 08:42 PM
03/05/18 08:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,283
Land 'O Lakes
RoadRunnerLuva Offline
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RoadRunnerLuva  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,283
Land 'O Lakes
The only stinky thing in my car, is the seat cushion, after I have a
big burrito dinner. fart laugh2

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461791
03/06/18 12:39 AM
03/06/18 12:39 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
Airgrabber Offline OP
master
Airgrabber  Offline OP
master

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,642
Pewaukee, WI
You guys are a riot! laugh any other real life sugestions? help confused

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461824
03/06/18 01:21 AM
03/06/18 01:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,487
God's Country Maryland
GODSCOUNTRY340 Offline
top fuel
GODSCOUNTRY340  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,487
God's Country Maryland
Have you tried scent elimination spray by Code Blue? Used by hunters.


I love the smell of Deer guts in the morning, it smells like... VICTORY!
Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Airgrabber] #2461826
03/06/18 01:26 AM
03/06/18 01:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Put on some rubber gloves and go round up an old dried dog turd ( I bet its a pretty similar smell as your steering wheel). Now, spray it down really good with anything you like (any of the above suggestions for example) now, put it on your dash for a week and get back to us on the results. I'd ponder a guess that it will still smell just like an old dog turd, only one that you spritzed up with some perfume laugh2

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: a12rag] #2461850
03/06/18 02:21 AM
03/06/18 02:21 AM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 172
katakan
L
lilred Offline
member
lilred  Offline
member
L

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 172
katakan
Hi a12rag, do you have a model number on the ozone generator that you got from amazon?
Thanks

Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: lilred] #2461858
03/06/18 02:36 AM
03/06/18 02:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 777
Washougal,Wa
D
Dodge Offline
super stock
Dodge  Offline
super stock
D

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 777
Washougal,Wa
Very nice car. Love the colors.


Stand behind your word
Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: Dodge] #2461943
03/06/18 11:56 AM
03/06/18 11:56 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,540
Motor City
6
6PKRTSE Offline
master
6PKRTSE  Offline
master
6

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,540
Motor City
I have never heard of this bad smell before. My cars never smell from the steering wheels or shifter knobs. In fact I always smell the old car leather smell from the seats when I get in since mine is am S.E. & has leather seats.

rsz_100_1673_[640x480].jpg
Last edited by 6PKRTSE; 03/06/18 11:57 AM.

1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
Re: Smelly steering wheel [Re: 6PKRTSE] #2461944
03/06/18 11:57 AM
03/06/18 11:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,540
Motor City
6
6PKRTSE Offline
master
6PKRTSE  Offline
master
6

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,540
Motor City
my other car.

rsz_100_1699.jpg

1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.






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