A Comprehensive Aroma Guide To Your Engine

A Guide To Smells In Your Car
From Us At King Kia, With Love

Smell: Rotten Eggs
You think: “There must be a dump nearby… or someone passed gas. I hope it’s the dump.”
It is actually: Your catalytic converter doing something weird. Doesn’t matter what it is specifically because the catalytic converter is both important and something that no matter what’s wrong, needs to get fixed.

Smell: Burning Carpet
You think: “This reminds me of when Grandma’s vacuum exploded.”
It is actually: not Grandma’s vacuum. It is probably your brakes needing to be checked out.

Smell: Maple Syrup
You think: “When was the last time we got Waffle House? Let’s go to Waffle House.”
It is actually: a coolant leak. Coolant contains chemicals that smell sweet but are actually super toxic. Wait until your vehicle has cooled down and then check the fluid level in your radiator. Schedule an appointment with us if it’s low.

Smell: Burned Rubber
You think: “That smells like burned rubber.”
It is actually: …burned rubber. It’s from slipping drive belts or loose hoses rubbing against engine parts. Check this out ASAP.

Smell: Hot Oil
You think: “Ugh, can someone roll down a window?”
It is actually: the stinky smell of burning oil. You probably have an oil leak, and the oil is dripping onto a hot part of your engine (probably the exhaust) and sizzling to a crisp. Check under your vehicle to see if you can spot a leak.

Smell: Dirty Socks
You think: “Remind me again why I had kids? And then decided to put them in sports?”
It is actually: okay. Well, if you do have kids in sports, then you should make sure it’s not actually dirty kid socks. If you have eliminated that option, then it’s probably mildew growing in your A/C evaporator. To fix this, just drive a mile from home and turn off the A/C and run the fan on high to dry your system out. Voilà!