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Step 1
Check that you haven't left your gas cap off. This can cause the faint smell of gas in the air. If the cap is securely on, it might point to a larger problem.
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Step 2
Check your tailpipe for holes, cracks or broken pieces. This can filter exhaust in to you car from various crevasses. Because carbon monoxide is dangerous to inhale, you should get you car checked by a mechanic.
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Step 3
Sniff around for the smell of rotten eggs, and we don't mean your fridge. The rotten-egg smell comes from a clogged or plugged catalytic converter or a very rich fuel mixture. It can also cause poor gas mileage.
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Step 4
Turn the engine off and inspect all rubber hoses and belts under hood if you smell burning rubber. The smell might be coming from a melting rubber hose resting on a hot exhaust manifold or a belt shredded by a jammed pulley.
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Step 5
Check your oil frequently. An oil leak at the top of the engine (typically from the valve-cover gasket) can spill onto the exhaust manifold and burn, causing a foul smell and occasionally light smoke.
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Step 6
Take your car into your mechanic. If a smell persists, and you can't locate it, take your car into and auto-repair shop. While not all foul smells mean danger, they're certainly not good news for your car.
Comments
Nubie said
on 1/2/2009 This website is all about car smells. They talk about the most common car smells. Here's their website www.mycarsmellsbad.com. I had a bad smell coming out of one of my wheels and that website helped pointing me to the correct problem.
senaelen said
on 10/30/2007 bump
senaelen said
on 10/30/2007 In response to your removal of a plastic bag with oven cleaner, DO NOT! I REPEAT, do NOT! use oven cleaner, the next thing you will be smelling is a chemical reaction when the exhaust heats up and the oven cleaner ignites, along with the car, and you!
senaelen said
on 10/30/2007 in response to the person saying to use oven cleaner on the exhaust pipe, DO NOT I repeat, DO NOT spray FLAMMABLE MATERIALS on your EXHAUST PIPE, the next thing you know youl be driving and the last thing youl smell is a very interesting chemical smell before the oven cleaner ignites from the heat and the gas tank catches.. i hope you arent dead man..
Anonymous said
on 1/16/2006 I have a car that has started to smell noticeably from the front. Mechanics diagnosed the problem as badly damaged spark plugs, as a result of someone installing the cheapest brand.