Diesel Fuel and Clothing

[Adventurous Traveler]

I changed my primary fuel filter on my 6.7 Cummins diesel on Wednesday. And, just like previous times when dropping the old filter into the oil change pan, you get a shower of fuel down your arm. I've gotten smarter by wearing a short-sleeved shirt this time, but diesel fuel still rolled down my arm onto the souvenir t-shirt I had on.
Last year's long-sleeved T went into the garbage because I could not get the diesel smell out of the shirt after soaking it in Tide, washing it by itself, and re-soaking it.

This time I sprayed the whole shirt with my favorite cleaner, "Super Kleen" by Castrol, and soaked it in hot water and All laundry detergent. We'll see.

Does anyone have any tips (modern term hacks) on how to remove diesel fuel and smell from clothing?

 

[old RV guy]

Ideally you'd have a set of coveralls or a set of clothes you wear only for that type activity. That purple degreaser from Wal-Mart will however do the trick, dilute some in a five gallon bucket, soak your clothes overnight then run them through a wash cycle.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Thanks Onyyrief.

The Super Kleen (actually, I think it's Super Clean) I use is a great degreaser I've been using for years for all kinds of cleaning/degreasing, including a laundry pre-soak for grease stains on clothing. Maybe I should try just pouring some in a bucket of water to soak the shirt, vs spraying it on the shirt and then soaking it in detergent, which might counteract the SC.

In my younger days, I did have a pair of coveralls for crawling around my boat and cars. Don't really know what happened to them, hmm. I think what I'll do for next year's fuel filter (2) changes is tie a rag on my forearm to soak up the diesel that runs down the arm.

 

[chindog]

I had a diesel fuel leak that sprayed fuel all over my tow bar and cables. My favorite leather gloves that I use to connect the car got soaked. I put them in a plastic trash bag hoping I can find something to clean them with. In the meantime, I bought a new pair of gloves.

 

[8Muddypaws]

Whenever I'm doing anything with diesel fuel I have a drip pan and a heavy duty trash bag very close.

My secondary fuel filter can only be reached by removing the bed. If I spilled diesel fuel in the bedroom....we'll, let's just say it would not end well for me.

 

[Oldgator73]

In my younger days, I did have a pair of coveralls for crawling around my boat and cars. Don't really know what happened to them, hmm. I think what I'll do for next year's fuel filter (2) changes is tie a rag on my forearm to soak up the diesel that runs down the arm.

Get a pair of Tyvec (sp) coveralls and rubber gloves. After you change the filter you can just throw the coveralls away.

 

[Adventurous Traveler]

Didn't use coveralls, but I did have rubber gloves on!

A good friend's daughter just graduated last week from the University of NC as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. At graduation, she and all of her classmates blew up huge rubber gloves that cover your whole arm that vets use when helping a cow through birth, which, if you don't know, well, look it up. Those gloves would work great for changing fuel filters!

 

[workinonit]

I've been getting diesel fuel baths my whole life. Never had any issues getting the fuel out by just washing. Maybe I'm just immune to the smell.

 

[old RV guy]

I love the smell of diesel fuel in the morning. It smells like ....victory!

 

[workinonit]

Did you win the tractor pulling contest?