INDEPENDENT DEALER

   Frederick, MD & Hagerstown | (301) 416-0575

OUR BLOG

6/3/2021
Car owners should get to know their car super well because this will help them notice when something isn't right. If your car is suddenly smelling odd, use these tips from ALF Marketing in Hagerstown to figure out why.



Learn What These Scents Are Telling You

When your car is brand new, you may notice it has a distinct new car smell. After this,  you may not notice any scents unless you forgot some eggs in the trunk or you dropped some food under your seat. If you do notice something smells off while you're driving, it's time to get your car checked out. To diagnose the issue, use these tips.

synthetic oil change in Hagerstown can help your engine stay well protected and perform better. To find the right oil for your car, contact the friendly oil pros at ALF Marketing. Give them a call at (301) 416-0575 or stop by their online shop to learn more or place your order.

Rotten Eggs or Sulfur

If your car is smelling like rotten eggs and you're sure you haven't forgotten any eggs in the backseat, then there is likely an issue in your catalytic converter. This part converts hydrogen sulfide from the engine's exhaust into sulfur dioxide, which is where the smell would be coming from. If you start to smell sulfur while driving, then it's time to head to your mechanic to get this fixed.

A Sweet Scent

The smell of syrup is often associated with coolant, and this is no different. A sweet smell that resembles syrup may be the result of a leak in your cooling system. Look under your car to see if you can spot any green dots of the fluid leaking. It's also a good idea to look under the hood since coolant can pool there as well. Even if you can't spot any coolant while visually inspecting your car, it's a good idea to get your mechanic involved. There may be a leak that you weren't able to identify, so this should get fixed before your engine overheats.

Burnt Oil

The smell of burnt oil isn't hard to figure out. This will very likely be pointing to an issue in your engine. This may be something as simple as running low on oil, which can cause your engine to overheat. If this is the case, check that your oil isn't leaking. If not, you may just need to top off your oil or get an oil change. If you have an internal oil leak that isn't visible during a visual inspection, then you may notice smoke coming from your exhaust pipe while driving. Look out for dark-colored smoke and be sure to get this checked as soon as possible.

Treat your car to a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown to ensure it stays at its best for longer. Use an oil like AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil to ensure it stays running correctly. Find more great products like this by contacting the friendly oil pros at ALF Marketing. Give them a call at (301) 416-0575 or visit their online shop to learn more or place your order.

Burning Carpet

This may be a very specific scent that you aren't expecting, and it's also a good reason to get your brakes checked. Before you panic, check that you aren't driving with your hand brake on. If you're driving down a hill and doing some intense braking, this may also happen. However, if you're driving on a city street without any intense braking, then you may have an issue with the brakes. The brake pads may be overheating, so be sure to get this looked at by a professional.

Burnt Rubber

The smell of burnt rubber may be quite literally that, rubber that is burning. This, of course, is nothing to ignore. If you're not sure what is burning, take a look under the hood and check that none of the rubber parts are up against metal parts that heat up while the car is going. For example, if a hose is on the engine, it can start to heat up and burn.

Gym Bag

Finally, if you get in your car on a hot day and turn on the air conditioner only to be hit in the face with the scent of a gross gym sock, there may be something growing in your vents. Mold or mildew can easily grow in there,  leading to that musky odor. Not only will it smell bad, but it can actually be bad for your health. Before you get a headache or worse, have your car serviced to get rid of the mold.

Give your car a synthetic oil change in Hagerstown to ensure your engine stays at its best. Contact the friendly oil pros at ALF Marketing for help finding the right oil for your ride. Give them a call at (301) 416-0575 or visit their online store to learn more or place your order.