Cars are our faithful servants. Give them proper service and repairs, and be sure of getting many hours on the road with minimal problems. However, not every car problem can be solved during the regularly scheduled service checks, and you should be keen to note anything strange with your car since it might be the sign of a more significant issue. Common symptoms include noise, but being conscious of unusual smells can help you detect specific problems early on. Here are some of the more common car odors that can be detected and let you know what to be aware of when you encounter that specific odor.
1. Burnt Rubber
The smell of burnt rubber indicates one thing; rubber has got into contact with hot material and is burning. When it strikes you, try and look at all the rubber parts of your car. In most cases, the burning could be due to the friction between it and a moving metal part. It could indicate a slipping belt or a loose hose from the cooling and/or power steering system.
2. Hot Oil
When you drive, the oil heats up, but it’s enclosed it its system, and you should not feel its burning smell. Once you smell this, know that there is a leakage in the oil circulation system, and it could be dropping on a hot part such as the exhaust system. The next step of action you should take is scheduling an appointment to bring your vehicle in to be inspected and have the issue corrected. If left untreated, low oil levels can damage the engine of your vehicle.
3. Gasoline
Smelling gasoline while driving implies that there is a leakage in one of the pipes passing it. The gas leak could be either in the fuel injector or fuel tank. If you have a car/vehicle from the 70s or earlier, a constant fuel odor after you turn off the engine might be typical; if that odor is strong, do not wait to get it checked out. Schedule an appointment to bring it into our auto repair center.
4. Burning Carpet
This smell indicates that there could be an issue with your brake pads or your rotors may be overheating. Note that brakes are a critical part of your car, and any issue with them should be corrected quickly to avert any hazard.
If the smell continues and you haven’t been driving in stop-and-go traffic, we highly recommend you have your brakes inspected as soon as possible.
5. Syrup
This sweet smell is derived from the engine coolant leakage. This isn’t nice for your engine since the coolant relies on the enclosed system to cool your engine. A leakage in the coolant can lead to overheating of the engine. Be cautious when opening the radiator, and do not do it when it is too hot to avoid getting burnt.
This can be a major issue and wreak havoc on your car, including causing your vehicle to overheat.
6. Rotten Eggs
This smell shows that your catalytic converter has a problem. The converter is designed to convert the gases coming from your engine into a form that can be released, and smelling this shows that it is not functioning well. In some cases, it can be an indication that the engine has an issue that is overwhelming the catalytic converter.
Courtesy of absolutecarcare
