A foul smell emitted from any part of your car stands for a mechanical issue or a worn car part. To put it simply, there are different reasons for what causes the burning smell in cars. Let’s go through the common reasons and solutions.
What Causes Burning Smell in a Car
Read on to differentiate between the various burning smells coming from your car, what causes them and how to fix them. Make sure you always identify the problem and work on a solution because breathing in a car with a burning smell for too long can be the reason for several health hazards. Following are the different types of burning smells a car may encounter:
- Burning rubber smell
- Burning plastic smell
- Burning coolant smell
- Burning oil smell
- Burning carpet smell
Burning Smell from Car: Burning Rubber
When a car smells like burning rubber after driving, it means something is wrong under the hood of your car. Burning rubber smell from car means that the engine is overheating. There can be a number of reasons for this smell; troubleshoot the problem to avoid a breakdown.
Other problems associated with burning rubber smell from a car include:
Dragging Drive Belt
When your car smells like burning rubber, you may also notice your car making weird sounds. These abnormal noises from under the car’s hood include loud slapping sounds and squealing or knocking noises.
This generally happens when one of the accessories connected to the drive or serpentine belt is locked, such as the air or water pump, the generator, the A/C compressor or the A/C compressor clutch.
When any of these accessories get locked, the belt rotates on a frozen still pulley. As a result, the drive belt drags, and the friction is the source behind the burning rubber smell. This can also happen because of a misaligned pulley.
The Solution: In case of a burning rubber smell from a car because of a dragging drive belt, you need to replace the faulty drive belt and check the remaining belts. It is advisable to check your drive belt at least every six months.
Slipping Clutch Problem
If your car smells like burning rubber or burning newspaper every time you shift gears, it means your car has a problem with the clutch. The rubber type of burning smell is due to the clutch being released too slowly
The friction makes the surface of the clutch (made from a type of paper mesh) burn, making the car smell like a burning piece of paper.
One reason for the slow riding of the clutch can be poor driving position. Sitting too close to the medals hampers the legroom a driver needs. As a result, they unintentionally rest their foot on the clutch pedal.
The Solution: Get your car’s clutch inspected to determine if it is worn out or needs to be replaced. Moreover, learn proper clutching, shifting techniques to avoid clutch problems. Adjust your driving position in such a way that your foot has enough room to move away from the clutch and rest on the floor. Unnecessarily keeping your foot on the clutch pedal, also known as riding the clutch, usually leads to premature wear and tear.
Burning Smell from Car: Burning Plastic
When a car smells like burning plastic, there is usually a problem with the heater, resistor, fan, or other car electrical components. The reasons and solutions for burning plastic smell from a car are listed below.
A Clogged or Worn Heater
If your car smells like burning plastic, the first thing to check is the heater. If the heater is not used for a long duration, dust accumulation usually happens. Clear out the dust. If you still smell burning plastic, then it may be possible that large particles or debris have clogged the vent.
Inspect thoroughly to rule out the problem. Burning plastic smell can also emit from your car if the heater is broken or due to the antifreeze leaking in the vents. The smell may also be associated with a broker or, worse, a melted part of the heater.
The Solution: If there is a strong plastic burning smell in your car but you don’t find any dirt or debris stuck to the vent, take your car to the mechanic immediately. Get the heater and other suspected car parts checked. Check the fuel lines for leakages. Get the air filters cleaned or replaced if required.
Electric Short
Another major reason for the plastic burning smell from the car is an electrical short circuit in the engine. The plastic coating on fuses, wires and other connections may make your car smell like burning electrical components.
The Solution: In case of an electrical short, take your car to a professional auto technician. They will connect your car to the computer system to identify the source of the electrical problem.
Burning Smell from Car: Burning Coolant
Leaking Coolant
If the smell emitting from your car is from your AC and is somewhat sweet, it may be because the coolant is leaking in your cooling system and getting burned off. Generally, AC units work together with the cooling system. Damaged or worn cooling components can leak the coolant.
Several reasons make the car coolant burn off. Common causes include a cracked or leaking head gasket, coolant leak mixing with oil, burning off inside the engine’s combustion chamber. Moreover, a pinhole leak in a coolant hose can spray the coolant onto a hot engine component, which boils off coolant away.
The Solution: If the coolant is getting burned because of a leaking head gasket or hose, get it repaired. If the hose is damaged, get it replaced. You need to go to a professional automotive repair shop to solve a burning coolant problem.
Burning Smell from Car: Burning Oil
Another reason for the burning smell from cars is because of oil. If your car smells like burning oil, stop the car immediately and troubleshoot at once. Identifying the reason for a burning oil smell can be tricky.
It is best to let a professional auto mechanic figure out what went wrong instead of the driver inspecting the various car components.
That said, the following are some reasons your car smells of burning oil:
Old Engine Oil Or Improper Oil Change
If your car smells like burning oil and you notice blue-tinted smoke coming from the tailpipes, it’s probably because of engine oil coupled with an overused oil filter that is burning excess oil in your engine.
You may also notice a burning oil smell from your car if the oil change is not done properly. Improper oil changes can result in excessive oil dripping in the exhaust system or other car parts. As a result, when the engine warms up, the oil burns and creates a pungent smell.
The Solution: To avoid the burning oil problem and to ensure the engine is in tip-top shape, change your oil and oil filter periodically as recommended in your manual.
Leaking Engine Oil
Over time engine oil tends to leak through the cracked or worn head gaskets, hoses, and even the oil filter. These parts get small cracks over time owing to the normal heating and cooling cycles of your engine.
Upon reaching the hot engine or other heated elements under the hood, the leaking oil burns off.
The Solution: If you notice a burning oil smell and white exhaust smoke from the car, inspect the source of the leak yourself and take the car to the nearest professional auto shop for troubleshooting. Do not keep driving with a leaking oil problem or you may suffer more damages and extra repairs.
Burning Smell from Car: Burning Carpet
The car smells of a burning carpet when the driver rides the brakes hard. If you slam the brake really hard when going down a steep hill, the excess on the brake pads can lead to a burning smell. Another reason can be a seizing calliper piston dragging the brakes.
The Solution: Inspect the car’s braking system regularly to ensure everything is in perfect shape and working condition. Avoid slamming the brake often. Keep a proper distance from the cars in front. If you have an older car, flush the old brake fluids periodically. This helps your car brakes last longer.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more on car DIY solutions, car repair tips and much more.
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