What does a sweet smell from a car mean?
Identification. In the vast majority of cases, a strongly sweet smell coming from a car indicates that the car is suffering from a coolant (also sometimes called antifreeze) leak. The odor itself can vary somewhat. Some people describe it as smelling somewhat like maple syrup while others associate it more closely with butterscotch.
Why does my car smell like maple syrup?
If a sweet smell akin to maple syrup permeates your vehicle and you know no one is eating pancakes in the backseat, it is time to seek mechanical attention. This sickly sweet smell is far from edible. It may be from toxic liquid ethylene glycol, otherwise known as antifreeze or engine coolant. There are several potential reasons for the odor.
What does coolant smell like in hot car?
Coolant has a sweet smell like candy. If your car is leaking coolant or antifreeze, you will notice the sweet aroma coming from your engine compartment or inside your vehicle if your heater core has failed. Antifreeze gets very hot and will start to steam, especially if it’s spraying onto a hot engine or running down a hot radiator.
Why does my car have a burning rubber smell?
This is a remarkable sign that your car engine is running for a long time. When the burning rubber smell appears in your car, it also means that you need to find out more about future problems with your car. These causes below will show the specific reason why your car have burning rubber smell.
What kind of car has no chemical odor?
The Delsey Helium Fusion I bought seemed o.k. in the store, but in my car, the chemical odor filled the vehicle. I returned it. Walking toward the Sears luggage department, from twenty feet away I could smell the chemicals outgassing from the collection of suitcases. The only model I found without a chemical odor was the TravelPro Crew 7.
Is it dangerous to have a burning smell in your car?
If you do encounter a burning smell while in or around your vehicle, it’s important to identify the source and correct the problem. Some burning materials are very dangerous and can even cause a fire. We’ve done our best to describe these different smells in words, but smells can be very subjective and difficult to describe.
Why does my car smell like burnt popcorn?
Think burnt rubber with a bit of burnt popcorn mixed in. You will often smell this inside the cabin, but may smell it outside the vehicle as well. Excessive clutch slipping may also yield smoke from the engine bay. You are most likely to smell your clutch when it is slipping excessively.
Why does my car smell bad when I stop?
Even if your brakes are working perfectly, your brakes will start to stink up the cabin if you’re working them really hard. Some examples of working your brakes include descending hills, repeated hard stops, and even a single panic stop from a high speed.