I still remember the day that I bought my first car. I thought it was the most perfect vehicle in the world, and I vowed to care for it diligently. Unfortunately, within a few days I had forgotten about my promise, and I started tossing fast food wrappers in the back like everyone else. After awhile I realized that neglecting my car was turning the inside into a garbage pit, and I decided to learn how to take better care of my vehicle. I took a class on auto detailing, and it really helped me to turn things around. I want to teach you what I learned, so you should read this blog.
Owning a car means that at some point, you are going to need to receive some type of auto services. While many of the problems are mild, some problems may be more severe and require immediate attention. When it comes to your car, one of the first signs of a problem is unusual smells, especially smells that resemble a type of food. If you smell something unusual in your car, it can be a sign of a serious mechanical problem or it could simply mean that there is spilled food in the car and have a mildew problem. Either way, it's important to take the car to an auto repair shop for a diagnosis, because some smells can be very dangerous. Here are some of the most common "food-like" smells that indicate a problem with your car.
Burnt Toast
Smelling an odor that reminds you of burnt toast may be a sign of a highly overheated engine. This smell means that there are components melting under the hood. The best-case scenario could be extremely heated plastic hoses or parts, but the worst-case scenario may mean there is damaged wiring in the engine, which can lead to a malfunction in the electrical system. If this happens, it causes a chain reaction, which makes the engine continue to get hotter and hotter until it seizes altogether. In this situation, you should stop driving immediately, raise the hood (without turning off the engine), and allow the engine to cool. As soon as the motor cools, take the car to an auto services center right away.
Rotten Eggs
Smelling rotten eggs or sulfur is an indication that you are probably going to need to take your car to an auto repair shop to get it serviced by a professional. Typically, the smell of rotten eggs indicates either a broken catalytic converter or a mixture of fuel and air that is running too rich, so you'll most likely need to replace the catalytic converter. The smell of rotten eggs may also mean a broken fuel pressure regulator or a hot engine; all of which mean you will need to get the car to the repair shop as soon as possible.
Maple Syrup
If you detect a sweet smell of maple syrup, especially after the engine warning light comes on, it might mean that the coolant is leaking from the radiator or the heater hose. Noticing a maple syrup smell outside of the car usually means there is a leak in either the radiator cap or the radiator itself and if the smell inside the car, it might mean the heater core is bad. Either way, if you smell maple syrup, you should take your car in for auto services right away.
Not all smells in the car are an indication of a mechanical problem, sometimes; it's just a few groceries that may have rolled under the seat. So, if you notice a bad smell a few days after going to the grocery and you noticed a few items missing when you got home, check under the seats for rotten food. There's always a chance that the smell actually is food, but in many situations, it is a mechanical problem, so you should take the car in for maintenance and repairs as soon as possible. Reach out to a service company such as Robins Auto Service to learn more.
Share19 April 2019
