Pungent pongs can signal all kinds of faults with different parts of the car. In an ideal world, these strange scents should be picked up by a mechanic when you go for a service or MOT. But these smells may become evident in between visits. So, here’s a guide to help you get to the root of what is causing that stench.
My car smells sweaty
If no one has been driving your motor in their flip flops, chances are that sweaty smell has something to do with the air conditioning element. When you can smell this lingering odour, it is often because mould has grown in the heater.
One way to oust the stench is to turn off the air conditioning unit and run your fan at a high level to dry it out.
Why can I smell rotten eggs?
Rotten egg fumes should never be ignored. When the engine runs, you may be able to smell something unpleasant. That egg-like smell is hydrogen sulphide that can linger in the exhaust and may indicate a problem with your catalytic converter or that the wrong fuel has been added.
If your catalytic converter has failed, it can be a costly job and you’ll need to make an appointment with a garage.
Why does my car smell of burning?
If your car is currently trumpeting the scent of eau de burnt carpet, it’s most likely because you’ve been pumping those brakes too much. When you do this, they can overheat which causes the smell of burning.
If the burning smell is more like paper, it could be an issue with a clutch and it will most certainly need replacing.
If oil is burning, it smells vile, and may produce clouds of blue smoke to help you work out that something may be wrong with the exhaust.
You may need to replace your brake pads or your clutch but either way, a mechanic should be called to check it over.
Why does my car smell of petrol?
If you can smell petrol it’s likely that your fuel cap is missing or very loose – did you remember to pop it back in when you last filled up?
If that’s well in place, it may be an indicator that something is seriously wrong, such as a gas leak or other fault with the gas tank. Obviously leaking fuel can cause a fire so it’s important to get this checked out by a reputable mechanic as soon as possible.
If your vehicle was leaking petrol, you may be able to see rotten or disconnected fuel lines.
My car smells like sweets
At times, you may think you can smell sweets in your car and while it may be quite nice if not a little sickly, it’s not a good sign for your motor. Some people believe it smells like maple syrup.
If you detect this smell, it can be associated with your antifreeze. It has a sweet smell and when it leaks into your heater box, you have problems. You may also notice fogged up windows or a sticky film on your windscreen.
If you can sense a sweet smell, you should check around the passenger foot well for dampness – if the floor is wet, you’ll need to book yourself in for a repair of your heater box.
You should check the temperature gauge on your dashboard to see if your engine has overheated. If it is hot, you should not continue driving as this may cause harm to your engine.
I can smell burnt rubber
Burnt rubber is a sure sign that your tyres’ air pressure is low. It may simply be a case of pumping then up, or at worst, buying new tyres. The burning rubber you can smell is a result of friction between a tyre and the road.
This stench could also mean a drive belt has slipped and is rubbing against parts of the drive pulley.
So, if you’ve often wondered, why does my car smell? hopefully we have helped you identify some of the stinks you may encounter coming from your vehicle from time to time. Always remember to contact a reputable garage if you cannot remedy a fault yourself.
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