Beware of Car Smells That Could Be Trouble

If your car smells, you must pay attention to its maintenance. Here are some common car smells:

Gasoline smell: Today's cars have vapor-recovery systems to prevent gasoline vapors from wafting into the surrounding air. If you smell gas, it's possible that the vapor-recovery system isn't working properly -- or worse, that there's an actual gas leak somewhere.

Acrid/burning hair smell: The friction material that lines brakes can produce this smell, especially during hard use or abuse, such as riding the brakes.

Burning oil smell: This often is the result of a small leak in a gasket or seal that lets engine oil seep onto hot engine parts, where it cooks off. It's usually more of an unpleasant annoyance than an urgent problem. But small leaks can become bigger leaks. If the oil smell is coming from the tailpipe (look for smoke with a bluish haze), it is a symptom of a worn-out engine in which oil is seeping into the combustion chamber and being burned up along with the air and fuel.

Rotten egg/sulfur smell: This may be a sign that the catalytic converter isn't working properly. There could be a problem with the converter itself or with the engine.

Sickly sweet/oily smell: This could be engine coolant. If you notice this smell outside the car, check underneath for puddles and drips to see if there is a leak somewhere in the cooling system. If you notice this smell inside your car, check for dampness around the passenger side foot well. If you find wetness, you probably have a leaking heater core.

Musty/moldy smell: Condensation may be collecting in the vehicle's air-conditioning system instead of draining out as it should.