What’s That Burning Smell Coming From My Car?

One day, you're cruising along when suddenly you catch a whiff of something burning. Maybe it's accompanied by heat or even smoke emanating from beneath the hood. A "burning smell" from your vehicle can signal a variety of problems, ranging in severity.

Burning Rubber

If the smell is coming from under the hood, it might be one of your car's hoses or belts that has come loose and is now rubbing against a hot component of the engine. As soon as you notice this, it's important to either fix the hose or replace the belt as soon as possible.

Alternatively, the burning rubber smell could be originating from your wheels. If one of them feels unusually hot, it might be because a brake pad or shoe is dragging on the road. Or, if you're driving a manual car, your clutch might be overheating.

If it's your wheels causing the issue, consider whether you've been braking hard or driving uphill frequently. If not, it could be that your car's caliper piston is damaged, or you might have accidentally left the parking brake engaged.

Sometimes, the "rubber" smell might actually be related to the coolant, which could be leaking into your heating or air conditioning system. At this point, carefully inspect the radiator for any cracks, no matter how small they might be.

Burning Oil

When you detect this scent, check the dipstick to see if your car is low on oil or if your engine is overheating, which might cause the temperature gauge to display inaccurate readings. If everything checks out, you have two main avenues to explore: look for oil leaks or examine your transmission fluid.

In terms of oil leaks, the problem might stem from the engine block or a faulty exhaust pipe. If exhaust gases are entering the cabin, you could be exposed to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and should address the issue immediately. If it's your transmission, the vacuum modulator might have absorbed some fluid and sent it into the engine.

It's Sweet

When you notice this smell, which is often compared to the aroma of maple syrup, your car's engine might be overheating. Your temperature gauge or warning light should alert you to this problem, but if they don't, the sensor might be malfunctioning.

Rotten Eggs

This distinct odor usually points to one major issue: your catalytic converter, which is part of the exhaust system, isn't functioning properly. At this stage, the catalytic converter itself might be failing, or there could be a more significant problem with your engine.

Burnt Toast

Upon detecting this smell, there's a possibility your car is experiencing electrical issues—such as a short circuit or burned insulation around a wire. Continuing to drive might worsen the situation, so it's wise to seek roadside assistance.

Burning Plastic

This smell also suggests an electrical problem within the engine, as the coating around wires, fuses, or other connection points might be burning. However, the source of the burning could also be literal plastic—a plastic bag or similar debris caught in the engine. Alternatively, it might indicate an issue with your heater:

• Accumulation of dust, particularly if you haven't used it in a while
• A blocked vent
• Antifreeze leaking into the vent
• Part of the heater might have melted

You Smell Gasoline

Is your car struggling to start? If you're encountering this problem and catching a whiff of gasoline, you might be dealing with a flooded engine. The smell could also result from fuel leaks in the injection system, carburetor, or fuel pump.

In all scenarios, whether you’ve identified the cause or not, it’s crucial to have DaSilva’s team diagnose the issue before proceeding with any repairs. To get started, give us a call today.