Weird Vehicle Smells
Some of us have experienced this situation in the past: You get into your vehicle, smell some weird scent, and begin wondering if the vehicle is safe to drive, if you should get out immediately, or otherwise, what you should do.
Truth is, any odd, weird, or unusual vehicle smells inside your car is not good, and you should get your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. On the other hand, sometimes the problem needs immediate attention, and other times it might be okay to wait for a time more convenient for you. Keep in mind that it’s always better to be safe than sorry and this is not advice, but rather for informational purposes only.
Vehicle Smells Like Dirty Laundry
If you’re experiencing dirty laundry smells in your vehicle, the cause of this likely has something to do with your air conditioning. Your AC unit could be dirty and over time, develops a build up of dirt and dust that gets trapped inside. When you experience this smell, it is likely right after you turn on the AC unit.
If you want to get rid of these vehicle smells, try turning your ac off and turning your fan on high. This may blow the build up away. It’s also likely that the problem has not been treated fro long enough that you’ll need to find professional service.
Sometimes, people say this doesn’t smell like dirty laundry but rather just a musty scent. The mustiness can be related to the build up of dirt and dust.
Rotten Egg Smells
If you think your vehicle is smelling like rotten eggs, there’s always a chanced you’ve got rotten eggs sitting under your seat! But more likely, this will be caused from your catalytic converter. Your catalytic converter converts the exhaust into a substance free of smells. So if your vehicle smells like rotten eggs, this will likely be the issue.
Something’s Burning!
If you experience vehicle smells consisting of burning of some sort, there could a few causes here. Sometimes the burning could be your brakes, which many people claim smells like burning carpet. Although, it probably won’t be your brakes if you just got into your car after not driving it for awhile.
Other burning could be engine oil. This ones hard to relate to another type of smells other than oil. This could be due to an oil leak where oil is escaping and burning on other hot surfaces. Or the cause could be the engine oil getting too hot (not enough coolant) and burning internally, which can lead to serious problems.
Additionally, those who drive manual vehicle have experience vehicle smells related to a burning clutch, which can be related to burning paper. This is simply not good, see a mechanic as soon as possible!
What to do When Your Vehicle Smells
Even if you know what the weird vehicle smells might be, it’s best to get them taken care of as soon as possible. You might end up doing more damage overall by continuing to drive your vehicle. Typically, driving it a bit won’t do much damage, but still not recommended.
It’s best to consult a professional who has experience with vehicles, such as mechanics. They will tell you if you can drive your vehicle or if it’s just best to call a tow truck and avoid further damage.
