6 Vehicle Warning Smells Your Nose Can Recognize

If you have ever been in a car that has a certain smell to it, chances are there might be something mechanically wrong with the vehicle. Here are (6) vehicle warning signs that your nose might recognize as something that could spell trouble for your car. 

Burnt Rubber – This smell could mean slipping drive belts or misplaced loose hoses that might be rubbing against rotating accessory drive pulleys.

Hot Oil – The smell of hot oil could mean that oil is leaking onto the exhaust system or leaking onto another hot component. To verify the leak, look for oil on the pavement or smoke coming from the engine area. Be sure to turn off the engine before checking for as leak.

Gasoline – This smell is likely the sign of a gas leak from a fuel line, or possibly a fuel injector line, or from the fuel tank itself. Any smell of fuel is a possible fire hazard, so immediate attention should be given.

Syrup – The sweet smell of syrup may be a sign that the vehicle is leaking engine coolant from a component related to car’s cooling system.

Burning Carpet – This smell could be a sign of brake trouble. Have your brakes checked right away, especially if this smell is happening during normal driving conditions.

Rotten Eggs – This smell could mean the catalytic converter is not converting hydrogen sulfide in the exhaust to sulfur dioxide properly. Caution: a poor running engine can cause the catalytic converter to become overloaded and fail.

It’s best if you recognize any of these smells coming from your vehicle to have your vehicle inspected by a professional technician as soon as possible.