A Stinky Car May be Telling You Something

By Teresa Ambord

Some car problems give you no warning whatsoever.  But fortunately, other problems announce themselves with definite odors.   Here is a checklist of car odors that may be no big deal, or may require that you put down the keys and call a tow truck.

Here are some smell-alerts to watch out for:

  • Exhaust:   You may have a leak in your exhaust system, like a hole in your muffler, tailpipe, or exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe.
  • Burning trash: Is your engine burning oil?   If your car is older, you may have worn piston rings.  These rings seal gaps between pistons and engine cylinders.  If they wear down, oil can leak out of the cylinder walls.  The oil burns, and exits the tailpipe in smelly, blackish puffs of smoke.  If that happens, see a technician.
  • Hot oil:  If oil is leaking, it may boil onto engine components and bake. It could be as simple as a loose oil cap.
  • Fresh asphalt:  This could be a sign of an overheated engine.  Something is melting down, like plastic parts under the hood.   If that happens, a chain reaction may result, making the engine hotter and hotter.
  • Raw gas: Is the gas cap loose?  Did you overfill the tank?   If neither of these is possible, don't risk starting the engine.  You may have a severed gas line or leaky fuel-injection system.  Get the car towed to a technician.
  • Rotten eggs: Could indicate a plugged or damaged catalytic converter or a too-rich air/fuel mixture.  Call your mechanic, since this is a sign of electrical malfunction.
  • Burnt toast: May mean the electrical insulation is burning.  Again, call your mechanic.  You may have an electrical malfunction.
  • Burning plastic: May be as simple as a plastic bag caught under the car. Use a flashlight to check.   If that's the case, you'll probably just have to wait for the plastic to burn off.
  • Burning rubber: A rubber hose may be resting on the exhaust manifold, or a belt may be shredded by a jammed pulley.   If a belt is loose or worn, it is usually indicated by a squeal. Turn off your engine and inspect the hoses and belts and replace as necessary.  Could the smell be from your brakes?   After a long, steep descent, it's not uncommon to smell your brakes.  Try using a lower gear.  If you smell your brakes during normal driving, get them checked immediately.
  • Burning coolant:  You could have a blown head gasket, which causes coolant to mix with your gas.   If this is the case, you may notice thick, sweet-smelling, whitish smoke coming from the tailpipe.   See your mechanic.




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