any chemists around? Query re: diesel and legal case

[ilovemydogandMrObama]

Long story, but DH bought a 2nd hand car. Smelled very heavily of air freshener at the time, but later turned out it was masking a diesel spill in the car

It has been commented that this would be 'impossible' and that the smell of diesel would penetrate through.

Any ideas?

Did he buy the car from a respected car dealer?

No. No trade associations, if that's what you mean. I know. I know.

The dealership did admit at the time the car was used for transporting diesel, and they did clean it several times in attempt to get rid of the smell.

The problem is the adjudicator who says that the smell of diesel wouldn't be masked by deodorizer. Completely untrue, but am trying to address this point.

thank you

Will the Car dealer exchange the car for another one?

It's fairly easy to briefly remove a smell from a car. Open the windows for a while, turn on the ventilation then spray a strong smelling air freshener around. It will only remove and mask it for a short period but probably long enough for a test drive.

I'm not a chemist but it's fairly easy to do.

Can you reject the car on the grounds that diesel fumes are a carcinogenic.

We tried. It was a diesel spill in the back of the car, so has penetrated the carpet. No, the dealership won't take it back.

May try more air freshener, cut our losses and trade it in.

can you cut the carpet out?

Sadly no. It's more upholstery than actual carpet.

Go to your local Uni and see if someone is willing to be an expert witness for you. Or try someone like Proctor and Gamble, see if they have some bumf on how long their air freshener's will cover an odour.

In future do not buy anything that smells strongly of perfume/air freshener.

Take them to Court.

What is that TV prog with Esther Rantzen about Consumer Rights, Is it still called Watchdog? Ask them to get involved.

Plan a demonstration outside the dealers premises with posters, and get the local press to come and take photos.

Well, as a chemist who knows nothing specifically about diesel, I'd say 'do the experiment'.

spill some diesel on a carpet square, clean it a few times, seal in a box with air freshener, that sort of thing.

To the OP. can you challenge the adjudicators report? Surely it depends on the "nose" of the individual. Maybe your DH has no sense of smell.

Ask to see the adjudicator's qualifications. You may find that he/she has no particular qualifications that allows them to make that assertion which opens it up to be challenged.

Really excellent point about his lack of qualifications. The irony being that we submitted various expert reports in the submission.

yes, we are going to appeal.

Thank you so much

Oh well. Asked the adjudicator what qualifications he had and got a standard, 'am qualified to do the job' and didn't wish to discuss the matter further.

So much for transparency...

Google "Diesel smell"

Have you any young children?

Find out whether diesel fumes can be an aggravating feature for asthma.

Have a look at www.cleanair.org and search for "the dangers of diesel" and Factsheet on that web site.

Can you try legal action, and say that the car dealer had a duty of care towards you and your family and should have disclosed the presence of excess diesel.

Is the dealer aware of the potential long term adverse effects on the health of children.