Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

The bad smells in the car are very annoying. When such smells emanate from your car, this is an indication that there is something amiss somewhere. Below we share some insight on various car smells and what they might mean.

Burned Rubber

Every foul smell can be irritating. Several causes contribute to the burned rubber smell in the cabin. One popular culprit is friction in the car’s drive belt. A burning odor can also be due to leaking oil, which requires a mechanic’s urgent attention. The mechanic will identify where the oil is originating from and offer the much help needed.

Burned Carpet

The burned carpet odor is due to brakes overheating. When the car has been running for a long distance, especially on hilly terrain, there is a need to consider checking on the brake pads. Sometimes the smell can come from worn brake pads. You may need to visit a mechanic who should ensure that the brake pads are replaced accordingly.

Gym Clothes

When you notice a locker room smell in your car, know that the air conditioning system has an issue. Mostly this smell is caused by mildew concentrating in the A/C evaporator. To solve this issue, consider turning off the air conditioning unit while you are miles away from home. Then run the fan to dry out the entire system, clearing the mildew. If it still doesn’t work, a mechanic can help you clean the mildew himself.

Syrup

The maple syrup scent is very sweet and pleasant, but very toxic when emanating from your car. You may need to check for leaking coolant fluid. It could be coming from the radiator hose or the heater, cylinder head, or the manifold gasket. Sometimes you may also notice the maple syrup scent, which comes from a damaged radiator cap or the radiator itself.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

When your car is running, you will likely notice the smell of sulfur or rotten eggs if hydrogen sulfide is not properly processed in the exhaust system. This smell is contributed by very small amounts of concentrated sulfur in the gasoline that failed to convert to sulfur dioxide.

When you encounter any strange smells coming from your car, kindly contact us or visit our Chevrolet service center today so our certified auto experts can get you back on the road, odor-free.