When strange and funny smells start coming from your car’s exhaust, something is wrong. You must have a professional inspect your vehicle’s exhaust to prevent serious issues caused by a broken exhaust. However, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of strange smells coming from your exhaust. It could be a rotten egg smell or, at other times, a sweet smell, which could indicate a different problem.
Regular Exhaust Smell
Commonly, an exhaust will produce a smoky/musty smell, which is hard to describe on its own, meaning if your exhaust smells like exhaust normally does, you may not have anything to worry about. However, if you can smell exhaust within your vehicle’s interior, you may have an exhaust leak. You must have this serious issue addressed immediately.
Gasoline Smell
If the exhaust emitted from your vehicle smells gasoline-like, it’s most likely due to a rich air/fuel ratio. This problem occurs when either too much fuel or too little air is getting inside your vehicle’s combustion chambers. You may also notice black smoke coming from the tailpipe. This is commonly caused by damaged or leaking fuel injectors, clogged cabin air filters, or a faulty
A mass airflow sensor could be the cause of a gasoline smell emitting from your exhaust.
The Burnt Smell of Oil
The smell of burnt oil is typically an indication of an oil leak. When spilled oil comes into contact with hot engine components, it produces a distinct burning odor that can infiltrate the cabin through the ventilation system, causing a burning oil smell. You may also see smoke rising from the engine or find reduced oil levels accompanying this scent. If left unchecked, leaking oil can cause significant damage to your engine over time; therefore, it’s essential to promptly identify and fix any leaks.
Sulfur/Rotten Egg Smell
If your exhaust smells like rotten eggs or sulfur, it’s likely due to a damaged catalytic converter not functioning properly. Typically, during combustion, harmful gases such as hydrogen sulfide are created. Then the catalytic converter takes these gases and converts them into less harmful emissions. If the catalytic converter isn’t working, the conversion will not occur, resulting in a rotten egg or sulfur smell. A faulty or broken catalytic converter doesn’t cause rotten smells, but it may also reduce performance, increase pollution, and cause your vehicle to fail any emissions test. It’s crucial you have this problem looked at as soon as possible.
The Musty Odor of Mold and Mildew
A musty or moldy smell in your car usually indicates a moisture build-up, which can lead to the growth of mold or mildew. This problem often occurs in areas like the carpet, seats, or air conditioning system. Moisture might enter your vehicle through faulty seals or from high humidity levels. Beyond being unpleasant, this odor can negatively impact the air quality inside your car. To eliminate it, you should repair any leaks and maintain a dry interior environment.
Sweet-Smelling Exhaust
A sweet smell may be more pleasant to your nose than the smell of gasoline or sulfur, but it can still mean trouble. Exhaust that smells sweet could mean your vehicle has a leaky or damaged gasket. This could cause coolant to be burned up inside your vehicle’s combustion chamber, releasing the sweet smell of antifreeze with your exhaust. In addition to the smell, a leaking or blown head gasket will often release clouds of white smoke from the tailpipe.
Exhaust Service & Repair In Portland, OR
If you’re experiencing issues with your exhaust or emissions system, such as a leak, trust the experts at Stellar Auto Repair in Portland, OR, to inspect, diagnose, and repair the source of your problems. Call or schedule online with us today to secure an appointment with our friendly and knowledgeable team!
