The start of summer is upon us. Temperatures are rising. You hop in your car to head down to the beach, or maybe a long road trip with the family, and you notice your car, truck or SUV seems to have a funny smell. Should you be worried?
Not all funky smells spell pending doom for your car. Some odors come from the summer sun heating up your car, truck or SUV, enhancing the aromas of possibly some food you spilled, resulting in an assault on your sense of smell. Typically, you can do a quick search through your auto and find the offender, and simply by removing it or cleaning it, you've solved your problem. However, there are other smells that may require a visit to see your local ASE certified tech.
Let's take a look at 6 smells that often signal that it's time to get your auto into the shop.
Acrid / Burning Hair - Excessive riding of your brakes or a clutch on a manual transmission can wear the friction material that lines the pads and discs producing a nasty odor. How do you know if the problem is the brakes or the clutch? If your car, truck or SUV produces this smell while you have your foot on the brake, say, descending a steep hill, then your issue is likely the brakes. However, if you have a manual transmission and you notice the smell as you accelerate, your clutch is the probable suspect. In addition to easing up on your heavy foot, you should stop in for a visit with your mechanic.
Burning Oil Smell - If you smell burning oil, you may have a failing seal or gasket. This may be just a few drops seeping out and cooking on a hot engine. However, what starts as a small leak can lead to a big problem if you don't take care of it. If the smell turns into a bluish-tinged smoking tailpipe, you may have an engine with oil seeping into the combustion chamber. In either scenario, it's best to get a mechanic to run some test to get to the root of the problem before you blow an engine.
Gasoline - All cars, trucks or SUVs built since the early 80s were designed with a vapor-recovery system to prevent gasoline vapors from escaping. If you notice a gasoline smell when you're not at the pump, your auto may be telling you that you have a faulty vapor-recovery system. Even worse, you could have a gas leak which could lead to a potential fire. Start by checking your gas cap to make sure it is properly secured. If it is screwed on tight and you still notice the smell of gas, it is recommended that you stop and call for a tow to your nearest repair shop.
Moldy / Musty - That moldy, musty smell usually comes from stagnant water. This may be a result of faulty seals or leaks around your windows and doors, or it could be a sign that condensation isn't draining properly from your air conditioning system. The smell may not be your biggest problem. Mold causes various health problems.
Start by checking out the carpets on your auto's floor. If you notice dampness or smells there, it is likely due to the leaky doors and windows. If the smell seems to be emanating from elsewhere, check out the undercarriage of your auto near the front of the passenger side. If you notice mud caked on, it is possible that the mud is blocking your air conditioner ducts. You may be able to resolve the issue by cleaning the area with your garden hose or a drive through car wash. If this doesn't resolve the issue, it's time to get a professional opinion.
Oily / Sickly Sweet - Your engine's coolant has a very distinct sweet / oily smell. If you notice this smell, there are a couple of possible issues, depending on whether you notice the odor inside your auto or outside. If you notice the small outside, check underneath your auto for puddles from coolant. This is an indication of a leak in your cooling system. If you notice the smell inside, check for dampness around the passenger side floor. If the area is damp or wet, you may have a leaking heater core. You may be looking at anything ranging from the replacement of a leaking hose to replacing your heater core. Time to visit the shop to find out. And the sooner the better.
Sulfur / Rotten Eggs - While a little stale egg smell can come from some of that Egg McMuffin you accidently dropped as you were driving, if you have more of a sulfury smell, you may have a problem with your catalytic converter. When the catalytic converter doesn't process byproducts of combustion properly, it will produce this foul odor, signaling it's time for a visit to the shop.
Not all funky smells spell pending doom for your car. Some odors come from the summer sun heating up your car, truck or SUV, enhancing the aromas of possibly some food you spilled, resulting in an assault on your sense of smell. Typically, you can do a quick search through your auto and find the offender, and simply by removing it or cleaning it, you've solved your problem. However, there are other smells that may require a visit to see your local ASE certified tech.
Let's take a look at 6 smells that often signal that it's time to get your auto into the shop.
Acrid / Burning Hair - Excessive riding of your brakes or a clutch on a manual transmission can wear the friction material that lines the pads and discs producing a nasty odor. How do you know if the problem is the brakes or the clutch? If your car, truck or SUV produces this smell while you have your foot on the brake, say, descending a steep hill, then your issue is likely the brakes. However, if you have a manual transmission and you notice the smell as you accelerate, your clutch is the probable suspect. In addition to easing up on your heavy foot, you should stop in for a visit with your mechanic.
Burning Oil Smell - If you smell burning oil, you may have a failing seal or gasket. This may be just a few drops seeping out and cooking on a hot engine. However, what starts as a small leak can lead to a big problem if you don't take care of it. If the smell turns into a bluish-tinged smoking tailpipe, you may have an engine with oil seeping into the combustion chamber. In either scenario, it's best to get a mechanic to run some test to get to the root of the problem before you blow an engine.
Gasoline - All cars, trucks or SUVs built since the early 80s were designed with a vapor-recovery system to prevent gasoline vapors from escaping. If you notice a gasoline smell when you're not at the pump, your auto may be telling you that you have a faulty vapor-recovery system. Even worse, you could have a gas leak which could lead to a potential fire. Start by checking your gas cap to make sure it is properly secured. If it is screwed on tight and you still notice the smell of gas, it is recommended that you stop and call for a tow to your nearest repair shop.
Moldy / Musty - That moldy, musty smell usually comes from stagnant water. This may be a result of faulty seals or leaks around your windows and doors, or it could be a sign that condensation isn't draining properly from your air conditioning system. The smell may not be your biggest problem. Mold causes various health problems.
Start by checking out the carpets on your auto's floor. If you notice dampness or smells there, it is likely due to the leaky doors and windows. If the smell seems to be emanating from elsewhere, check out the undercarriage of your auto near the front of the passenger side. If you notice mud caked on, it is possible that the mud is blocking your air conditioner ducts. You may be able to resolve the issue by cleaning the area with your garden hose or a drive through car wash. If this doesn't resolve the issue, it's time to get a professional opinion.
Oily / Sickly Sweet - Your engine's coolant has a very distinct sweet / oily smell. If you notice this smell, there are a couple of possible issues, depending on whether you notice the odor inside your auto or outside. If you notice the small outside, check underneath your auto for puddles from coolant. This is an indication of a leak in your cooling system. If you notice the smell inside, check for dampness around the passenger side floor. If the area is damp or wet, you may have a leaking heater core. You may be looking at anything ranging from the replacement of a leaking hose to replacing your heater core. Time to visit the shop to find out. And the sooner the better.
Sulfur / Rotten Eggs - While a little stale egg smell can come from some of that Egg McMuffin you accidently dropped as you were driving, if you have more of a sulfury smell, you may have a problem with your catalytic converter. When the catalytic converter doesn't process byproducts of combustion properly, it will produce this foul odor, signaling it's time for a visit to the shop.
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