I couldn't find a "GENERAL" forum, so putting this here is all I knew to do.........

I have a 2005 EB Expy that I bought new 13 months ago. LOVE this truck.

I just quit smoking cigarettes (I know, I was a DUMMY), and now the smell inside the truck is obnoxious. Especially when you turn on the A/C.

Anybody have any experience with removing the smell?

I have tried several things like the usual household products, but they only seem to cover it up and it returns in a few days.

 

Congratulations on kicking the habit! Life gets much better.

A lot of the stench is buried in the headliner. You can have it cleaned by a professional detail shop and also have them place a "smoke eater" machine in your Expy for a day.


Do you have a cabin air filter to change? Heck I don't even know if I have one.

Only time will get rid of it all. Let it sit outside on windy days with the windows open.

(former smoker and worked in detail as a young man)

 

I have used Febreeze on seats with much success on getting pet and smoke smells out of the car. I know you said you used "household products", but might be worth a few treatments.

 

Get yourself two large cans of lysol freshscent. Spray all that you can. Under the seats in the vents the headliner the spare tire cover if it is inside etc. Then put some coffee grinds in a bowl and let it sit overnight. You may have to do this a coulpe of times but it will get rid of the smell. Make sure you remove the floormats and treat all the carpet and do not put the mats back in until all dries out. Good luck

 

Ozium works pretty well, better than Lysol IMO. Spray it liberally under the dash with the A/C going on max/recirculate and the heater full blast. Leave it running, give it a final spray, seal it up and let it sit running for a while on recirc. a/c and full heat (20 min or so). Then open it up for a while. Repeat every couple days. This should really help w/ the A/C problem.

For the general smell:

In addition to airing it out, a good thing to do is let it sit in the sun sealed up (to get nice and hot inside) and then air it out. Repeat. In my experience the heat will draw the smell out better than just constant airflow. A bowl of baking soda sitting in it while you do this isn't going to hurt either.

Clean all plastic, leather, and glass. Do this often for a while. And yes, use febreeze on the headliner. I've heard the coffee grinds work even better if you slice an apple and put it in them.

Did you use recirc/max while you smoked? I always used the normal fresh air setting and blew my smoke out the window (opened a couple inches), many never knew I smoked in it. Using recirc is the way the smell gets trapped in the car and its ducts (too late now but...)

All that will help, but it will still just take some time. It will get weaker, but your nose will still be getting stronger, so you may not notice much of an improvement for a while...

 

I know most autoshops have a product that they spray in AC vents to get rid of that musty smell they sometimes get. You could probably go to a shop and have them spray that in there to get rid of the smoke smell from the ventilation system. Other than that, like other have suggested, get lots of frebreeze or the like and go to town. Maybe also get or rent an upholstry cleaner and do the seats, headliner, carpet a couple times.


BTW, congrats on quiting!

 

Febreeze auto works great for removing odors.I have aloso went as far as buying auto carpet shampoo and upholstory cleaner and clean everything but the headliner on a hot day park it in direct sun with the windows down to help dry it.Most of these cleaners can be vaccumed out with a shop vac.
Congrats on stopping I stopped in 98 and haven't regretted it.

 

Every few years I quit smoking cigars in the Land Yacht and go thru most of the routines....I think fabreeze and Ozium are a tossup. Upholstery cleaners like you can rent at Home Depot and the grocery stores help.

I wish there WAS a filter in mine somewhere....

 

I did the same thing as you. I opened the window a crack and didn't use recirc. I'd HATE to think what it would smell like if I did!

UPDATE!! I just talked to a good friend who has done commercial clean-up for a lot of the area dealers for many years. He said that NOK-OUT is by far the best thing that he has used. He highly recommended it. He says to follow their instructions by spraying into the vents with the a/c going and you'll be surprised with the results. I have ordered a couple of bottles, and if anyone is interested I will post the results in a few days. Their website is here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...cco_odors.html

( I hope it's OK to post their address on here.)

 

I've heard of it before, I believe it works on the same proncipal as Ozium does. Molecules bonding and oxidizing or something. Good luck.

Good deal. Even when I was a smoker getting into someones car who didn't know 'the right way' to do it was horrible. They were usually the people who REALLY stunk also. I would blow the smoke up and away even outside, usually I would wash my hands and rinse my mouth afterward too (especially when I was in sales). I heard "I didn't know you smoked" many times.

It doesn't seem like a blatant attempt at spamming, I'm betting they let it stay...

 

I've done this for cigarette smell in houses (I'm a realtor). Get a bag of BBQ charcoal and pile a heap of charcoal in the center of the truck. Close up windows and doors (as air-tight as possible). Leave for 2 days. Works like magic! You might want to keep the truck in covered garage. May need to repeat once more but smell will be gone permanently.

 

Got the NOK-OUT today (very fast shipping) and tried it. It absolutely works. No odors of any kind. And I REALLY had a smoke odor before when I turned on the a/c. Now it is gone. Great stuff.

 

i have used this trick more than once...

you need a flat plan or a large dinner plate filled with fresh ammonia,
on the floor in the front of the car, the more area the better.

run the vehicle on max a/c for 20 minutes or so

and heater on max so the heater core gets some , too

be sure to air it out before getting in it, might sting your eyes

 

...Welcome Mike to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

See you on the boards. ….

 

I like this idea, I will even bring the marshmellows