Like any other machine, your vehicle needs regular maintenance to run properly. Yet, even when you take care of your vehicle, you may experience a strange smell coming from your car.
The cause of bad car smells is often mechanical. And if you neglect them, it could result in an expensive repair later on.
That said, if you’re unsure why your car is giving off a bad smell, here are some of the most common stinky car smells and what they need for your vehicle.
- Rotten eggs. Yuck! If your vehicle is giving off a bad smell of rotten eggs, it could be a sign that you have a problem with your catalytic converter. Other signs of a bad catalytic converter are rattling sounds and reduced engine performance. Your Check Engine Light may also be on.
- Old and musty. When your car starts to smell like an unfinished basement, the source is most likely your air conditioning system. This musty smell is often caused by a buildup of mildew and mold that’s grown in the system.
- Burning smell. When your car smells like something is burning, it’s most likely because something is. Burning smells are often caused by oil leaking into your exhaust pipes or your engine.
- Burned rubber. It may be hard to determine the difference between different types of burning smells. But the smell of burning rubber is typically due to a slipping belt. When the serpentine belt slips and rubs against a moving part in your car it can give off a burning rubber smell.
- Syrup smell, or sweet citrus. That strange syrupy, citrus-like odor coming from your car is most likely due to leaking engine coolant or antifreeze. This may be due to a loose hose clamp. Hose clamps are manufactured to ensure a tight seal between a barb and a hose. But sometimes the clamp can loosen if there hasn’t been maintenance performed. The source of the smell could also mean there’s a crack in your hose.
Different types of hose clamps can come in handy for many projects. Whether you’re looking for a hose repair clamp for your car or you need a quick fix for your plumbing, Hose Clamp Kings have what you need. To learn more about stainless steel clamps and other hose repair clamps, contact Hose Clamp Kings today.
