Car Smells and What the Issue Could Be

Have you noticed an unusual smell in your car recently? If so, it may be more than just an odd smell. Car odors are more often than not an indication of underlying mechanical problems. Take a look at the following car smells and what they tell you about your car's well-being.

Burned Rubber

Your engine's rubber hoses could become loose over time due to vibrations from your car movement. Loose hoses may come in contact with a hot section of the engine producing the burning rubber odor. Oil leaks from an unsealed gasket can also produce a burning rubber smell when the oil comes in contact with a hot engine. Try to tighten the gasket seals to solve this problem.

Burned Carpet

A burned carpet smell comes about after you have used the brakes extensively. It could also mean your hand brake is on. It is recommended to bring your vehicle to our service center to replace any worn-out brake pads.

Gym Clothes

The smell of old gym clothes is typically present when you turn on the heater or air conditioner. The cause is usually due to mildew growing in the moisture that condenses in your A/C evaporator. Although it is popular knowledge that drizzling Listerine down the vents will get rid of this smell, it does not. Turning the A/C off about a mile from home, and turning the fan on to dry the system will work wonders.

Syrup

The smell is typically due to the leaking of your engine's coolant that contains pleasant-smelling, but toxic, ethylene glycol. The leakage could be from a heater hose or the radiator, cylinder head, or a failed intake manifold gasket. If you can smell it from outside the car, it is most likely from a leaking radiator cap or even the radiator. A bad heater core can be the cause of a strong odor in the passenger compartment.

Sulfur or Rotten Eggs

This unpleasant odor is usually apparent when your car's catalytic converter is not processing hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust efficiently. The smell could also indicate a leakage of gear lube from the manual transmission.

We, at Reliable Subaru, are committed to ensuring your car gives you the service you need. Visit our certified technicians in Springfield, MO, to have your strange car smells inspected today.