Car Smells: Common Odors and How to Get Them Out

“What’s that smell?” is one of the most nerve-wracking questions you can hear inside your car. More often than not, they’re signs of mechanical issues that need attention. Persistent or unusual odors like rotten eggs, smoke, gasoline, and burning rubber must not be ignored.

Identifying and addressing the problem early can prevent costly repairs and keep your vehicle running safely. Fortunately, most of these problems are easy to diagnose if you know what to look for.

Common Car Smells and How to Get Rid of Them

Cars can emit a variety of odors, each pointing to a specific issue. Here are some of the smells you may encounter and what they might mean for your vehicle:

Gasoline

If your vehicle smells of gasoline, the simplest explanation could be that you spilled fuel on your clothes while at the pump. To check if this is the case, drive with your windows rolled down for about 10 minutes. If the smell goes away, there’s no issue with your vehicle.

If the odor lingers, the smell may be coming from the fuel tank itself. Check the gas cap if it’s damaged or if there’s a leak in the tank/injector.

Go to a nearby auto shop and have a mechanic inspect your car to see if the smell persists.

Cigarette Smoke

If you’re not a smoker and your vehicle is pre-owned, then the cigarette scent may have been absorbed by your car’s vents, carpets, and upholstery.

To get rid of the smell, air out your car by driving with your windows down to increase wind and air circulation. Afterward, you’ll want to clean and vacuum all the surfaces to remove smoke or ash particles. You can also leave coffee grounds or citrus peels inside the car to override any lingering odors.

For best results, hire professionals since they’ll have better tools to deal with the smell.

Rotten Eggs

Generally, a rotten egg smell points either to a misfire or a faulty catalytic converter. It could also indicate issues with the fuel injectors, fuel filters, or fuel pressure sensors. If any are worn or damaged, sulfur-smelling gas can leak and cause a rotten egg odor.

However, there are also cases where the rotten egg scent lingers because the engine uses too much fuel, although it’s not as common as fuel system troubles.

To get rid of the smell, you must determine what’s causing it. Inspect the parts mentioned above for damage and have them repaired/replaced so the gas won’t leak into the cabin.

Burning Rubber

A burning rubber smell should raise concern for any car owner. The odor indicates that a rubber hose or belt has loosened, resulting in the part moving around and making contact with hot engine parts. To fix this, inspect the belts and hoses for wear and replace them properly.

In some cases, the smell could also come from under-inflated tires making too much contact with the road at high speeds. Needless to say, it’s best to stop driving and replace the worn-out tire before it results in a blowout.

Exhaust Fumes

Exhaust fumes inside the car cabin are relatively easy to identify. It’s similar to smoke but more intense. When you encounter this foul odor, it’s best to get out of the vehicle as soon as possible, as it’s dangerous inside a confined space.

The smell often indicates a leak in the exhaust system or poor seals on the windows/doors, leading to the fumes entering the cabin. The only way to deal with this issue is to take your car to a mechanic and have them diagnose and repair the problem since it’s hard to diagnose the entire exhaust system yourself.

Sweet, Syrupy Smell

A sweet, maple syrup-like smell coming from your car typically indicates a coolant or antifreeze leak caused by issues in the radiator, hoses, or heater core. In this case, the best thing to do is to turn your engine off and let it cool before checking the coolant level.

Once the engine is cool enough to touch, look for the coolant reservoir. If the coolant is below the recommended level, top it up immediately.

Mold or Mildew

A mildew smell from the A/C vents means excess moisture has built up in the evaporator/drain lines. This odor is not only unpleasant, but it’s also harmful if you breathe it in for prolonged periods.

When dealing with mold, the best thing to do is to take your car to a professional.