Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

You can expect certain smells when getting into your car, such as the new car smell or air freshener. But when a car starts emitting odors that we don't expect, we become concerned. In many cases, an unusual smell can mean that a component of your vehicle needs to be addressed. Below are some common strange smells and what issues they may be indicating.

Burned Rubber

If you smell burning rubber while you're driving, the most likely culprit is an oil leak. Leaked oil drips into the heated exhaust pipe, causing the oil to burn away. You should check your dipstick at the first possible opportunity to see if you're low on oil. It could also indicate a coolant leak or a transmission issue.

Burned Carpet

This burned carpet smell arrives after you've been using the brakes a lot. It's a telltale sign that you have overheated brake pads, which is only normal when driving down mountain roads. Under normal conditions, it can mean a dragging brake caused by a seized-up brake caliper piston.

Gym Clothes

You'll typically catch this smell after turning on the heat or A/C fan. Gym clothes smell the way they do because of mildew, and the same principle applies here. Fortunately, there's an easy way to get rid of mildew from your A/C evaporator. All you need to do is turn the A/C off and let the fan run to dry the system out.

Syrup

Smelling maple syrup in a car may seem inexplicable, but it can happen in some cases after the engine warms up. This is a sign of a coolant leak. Ethylene glycol is one of the chemicals in coolant, and it gives off a syrup-like odor when exposed or heated. It can also mean the intake manifold gasket is going out.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

If your car smells like sulfur at any time, this is because sulfuric compounds from the gear lube are leaking out. Without this gear lube, your manual transmission or differential housing will stop working properly.

If you're experiencing any of these smells, visit our dealership today to have your vehicle diagnosed and serviced by our professionals. We'll do our best to get you back on the road as quickly as possible.