Car smells like burning rubber - Possible causes and solutions

There are two types of smell that we’re sure every vehicle owner wants to have in his vehicle. The first is the scent of a new car that’s fresh off the dealership and the second is the smell of their favorite in-car air freshener. These two fancy scents are a symphony to any vehicle owner’s nose that is definitely worth telling the world about.

While having these two fragrances present in your vehicle seem pleasing and delightful, you may become uneasy once an irritating odor starts to overpower your favorite car freshener. Some famous (and annoying) messes that could cause an irritating smell could be spilled food and beverages, dirty laundry, too much moisture in the interior and pet urine.

There are two types of smell that we’re sure every vehicle owner wants to have in his vehicle

The good thing, however, that these types of bad odors can be removed by thorough washing and a generous amount of effort to remove the stains and any leftover residue that could still leave a trace of the smell.

But what if you start sensing a different type of odor coming from your vehicle? Do you still think that strong and high-quality cleaning materials will be able to get rid of a strong “burnt rubber” odor? Read on this article from Philkotse.com to find out.

First of all, when you detect unfamiliar scents coming from your vehicle, aside from the pet urine, spilled juice or mold, you should immediately consider having it checked.

Any type of weird odor or particularly a “burnt rubber” smell is usually an indication that something is wrong with your vehicle. In simpler terms, this shouldn’t be a sign that you should take lightly. The presence of a “burnt rubber” smell is usually one of the following:

1. There is a loose hose somewhere in your vehicle

This happens to three out of every ten scenarios where a burnt smell is detected from a four-wheeled vehicle. This is when one (or more) of the many rubber hoses under your vehicle’s hood has gone loose or in any way ends up getting pressed against a hot surface.

Inspect the engine bay and look for loose hoses. This usually happens if the vehicle is old or you may have installed or altered anything in the engine bay and paid little attention to the neighboring parts.

Inspect the engine bay and look for loose hoses

Solution: Once you find the hose, move it away from the hot engine part and if necessary, replace it as well. Most hoses in the engine are usually held in place by clamps to keep it from touching and coming in contact with other parts. If the clamps are the problem, consider replacing them as well.

>>> You might want to know: Step-by-step guide to check and replace failing vacuum hose.

2. The drive belt could be burning or melting

Having the drive belt is a rare case that doesn’t usually happen because of a faulty belt. The drive belt usually gets burned and emits the unwanted odor after it gets affected by another faulty engine part.

As you know, the drive belt rides on the pulleys to make various parts of your vehicle work. These pulleys run the water pump, the alternator, the air conditioner compressor, and the air pump.

If one of these pulleys suddenly stops working, the drive belt will continue to go around and create friction. Along with a squealing noise, the friction will cause the belt to burn and thus, release a burnt rubber odor.

The drive belt usually gets burned and emits the unwanted odor

Solution: For starters, the belt drive is already damaged, so you will need to replace that. If you detected the problem because of the burnt rubber smell, that means the belt has already suffered too much friction, so it will be risky to keep using it.

Once you changed the belt, make sure that the broken pulley is working again and all the problems that could have caused your drive belt to get burnt have been solved before using your vehicle again.

>>> Read more: Drive belts - What you have not known and what you need to follow.

3. The motor oil could be leaking

This event is one of the most dangerous and life-threatening among all the possible reasons why your vehicle smells like burnt rubber. The burnt rubber smell in this circumstance usually comes from the motor oil leaking into the hot exhaust pipes. If not addressed immediately, this can lead to an explosion and fire.

The burnt rubber smell in this circumstance usually comes from the motor oil leaking into the hot exhaust pipes

Solution: Park somewhere safe and stop your car engine for about 30 minutes or so. Then, check for leaks and clean up any traces of oil that can cause fire before determining the next step. The best thing to do here is to call a mechanic or have a towing service bring your vehicle to the nearest shop.

>>> Also read: Engine oil myths and what to do when oil leaks happen.

4. The coolant could be leaking

One other cause of burnt rubber smell is the probability that the coolant is leaking. The coolant is usually located in the heater core. If by any chance, it leaks into the air conditioning system or the heating system, the outcome will be a burnt rubber smell.

Note that a plain coolant leaking will release a sweet-smelling odor. If by chance, the sweet-smelling coolant gets in contact with a hot engine part, the end result will be a burnt rubber smell. One more thing you need to know is that the fumes from a burning coolant can be very dangerous to your health.

Aside from that, the coolant also plays an essential role in keeping your engine in optimal condition. If your coolant continues to leak, the performance of the engine can be greatly affected.

>>> Check out: Distilled water vs Coolant: Which is the best product for your radiator?

One other cause of burnt rubber smell is the probability that the coolant is leaking

Solution: Check your coolant tank for leaks and cracks. You should also check the coolant hoses for the same signs of damage.

5. A plastic bag may have gotten caught in your vehicle

There are instances that a plastic bag or any kind can get stuck to your vehicle’s exhaust pipe. This can slowly melt as the parts of your vehicle heat up due to prolonged use. The melting plastic is what causes the burnt rubber smell.

The melting plastic is what causes the burnt rubber smell

Solution: Let the muffler cool down first before attempting to pick out the plastic out of it.