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4 Car Smells and Their Meaning

Car smells can range from indicators of something being wrong with your car. In this post by Marlo Enterprises in Newark, we’ll go over the most common odors, what they might indicate and how to approach the issue.

What’s That Smell?

Driving around every day, you get accustomed to different car smells, but what happens when you smell a brand new one? It could be cause for concern and could indicate something wrong with your vehicle. Let’s go over some of the most common bad smells that could mean there’s something wrong with your car.

Keeping up with your car’s maintenance can help you avoid costly and unexpected repairs. Call the oil experts at Marlo Enterprises at (315) 331-4642 to find out the best products for your engine, or visit their online store to place an order today.

Do You Smell Burnt Oil?

The first smell we’re going to go over is burning oil. This one is a little bit easier to figure out since it’s most likely it’s coming from your engine. One of the most common reasons for this smell is running low on oil in the engine itself. The best course of action, in this case, is to pull over, wait for your engine to cool down, and then check your oil level. If it’s low, top it off with the same kind of oil you filled it with the last time you had an oil change. Following this, keep an eye out for leaks or burnt oil smells coming from your engine, and take your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible to make sure there are no other leaks or issues with your engine you might’ve missed.

Is It a Sweet Smell Like Syrup?

It might not be annoying if you smell something sweet like syrup, but it could be dangerous. A sweet smell like syrup could mean you have a coolant leak. There are two reasons why a coolant leak should be addressed as soon as possible. First, coolant is highly toxic and could put people inside a car at risk of having trouble breathing, developing heart problems, or kidney issues. The second reason is that a car without coolant could overheat and could cause expensive damage to your vehicle. If you smell syrup, pull over and check if your coolant is low. A temporary solution is to top your coolant off, but long term, the best way to ensure your car doesn’t have a leak or any other issues interfering with the cooling system is to take it to a mechanic to check it.

Weird car smells can mean trouble with your engine. Using excellent products for its maintenance, like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil, can help you avoid problems in the long run. Call Marlo Enterprises today at (315) 331-4642 for more information, or visit their online store for more products!

Does It Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

The smell of rotten eggs is something no one wants to encounter ever, much less inside your car. But if you’re driving around and start smelling rotten eggs, the best-case scenario would be actual rotten eggs or old food in your vehicle. Worst case scenario, the smell comes from your catalytic converter. A catalytic converter that isn’t working correctly could cause sulfur to escape from it, and the smell could creep into your car’s cabin. Take your vehicle to a mechanic to check it out for your comfort and the safety of your engine.

Do You Smell a Gross Gym Bag?

Lastly, if your car smells like a stinky gym bag, you could have issues with mold or mildew. Before anything, ensure you didn’t leave a gym bag full of smelly socks, clothes, or tennis shoes in your car. But, if you’ve checked and you’re sure that’s not it, the smell could be coming from your car’s vents. Mildew and mold smell similar to a gross gym bag and can fill your car’s cabin if you turn your air conditioning on. Breathing mold and mildew can be harmful to your lungs and could cause severe issues if you have allergies or other breathing problems. When you start smelling this, the best course of action is to take your car to a mechanic to have your air conditioning system and vents cleared out.