7
votes
Driving fast on gear 4 and smelling burnt smell after
Most likely the smell came from the flat tire. If you still have the spare on the vehicle and the flat is still in the trunk, that's what you're smelling.
- 162k
4
votes
Hands still smell like gasoline after multiple washings, it is safe to handle food?
With as much as you've done, you are safe my friend. Odor residue isn't the same as actually having those chemicals still coating your epidermis to mix with food prep to a concerning degree. It's ...
- 908
4
votes
Best way to clean car carpet?
Remove the carpet from car and then power wash it. You can use soap and brush to scrub it if power washing is not enough and then let it dry by leaving it in sun.
This is how most detailers I have ...
- 3,790
4
votes
2002 Subaru with strange smell, thin white steam
The most likely cause of these issues is a coolant leak. The strange smell could be coolant, which probably smells strange if you've never smelled it before.
You could have a worn-out radiator cap, a ...
- 8,518
3
votes
Added too much oil and smoke coming from under hood
Most likely the smoke is coming from spilled oil over engine that gets burned once the engine gets hot. However depends how much oil you putted in your engine, if it is too much you might have a ...
- 1,197
3
votes
Brake pad wears faster than other three
Since you have replaced all the calipers, the most likely issue is that the slider mechanism that the caliper rides on is seizing.
Each brake caliper holds 2 pads, if it is the slider that is at ...
- 25.5k
3
votes
Accepted
What is causing burning smell and over reving sound?
In attempt to keep this focus on the mechanics issue and less on the driving techniques:
You have an older car. A vehicle from 2006 has significant wear effects on every component, regardless of how ...
- 24.5k
3
votes
Accepted
White smoke and burning smell from engine area, can you spot the oil leak?
This seems to me like an intake manifold gasket or even a valve cover is leaking and when the engine gets hot the oil smokes away.
The dangers of driving like this? From the picture the leak looks ...
- 2,770
3
votes
Exhaust smells coming from ventilation system
Stop the car, open the bonnet and check that you don't have an oil leak. You may find an area of the engine or underbonnet is covered with black oil. Also check under the car for any signs of oil ...
- 23.4k
2
votes
Accepted
Weird "hair" comming out of my muffler
The material is the fiberglass baffling material from inside the muffler. It is an early indicator that the muffler is failing. The interior metal frame work is rusting away allowing the packing to ...
- 20.1k
2
votes
Motorcycle: burning smell from engine area
Check for any oil leaks, especially oil leaking around the cylinder head or onto the exhaust system, as any oil in these areas will heat up and basically cook.. giving you the burning smell. Also make ...
- 5,067
2
votes
Hands still smell like gasoline after multiple washings, it is safe to handle food?
While I do not dare to give you an direct answer on your question I want to give you two recommendations:
The next time try a mixture of vegetable oil and sugar. The sugar works as an mild abrasive ...
- 8,513
2
votes
How to remove decomposed food smell from car interior fibers?
The easiest, cheapest way to remove food smell from a vehicle is to use an ozone generator. Not only will it remove food smells, it will remove all smells. It doesn't mask the smell, but rather ...
- 162k
2
votes
How to remove decomposed food smell from car interior fibers?
If the fluids soaked through the fabric into the cushion underneath then the best option is to replace the complete seat.
New from dealer will be expensive, but cheaper option, and probably most ...
- 34.7k
2
votes
Accepted
How to remove an odor left by mice leaving dry dog food in my vent system. 2008 Honda Civic
Until you get all of the dog food and rodent feces out of the duct work, you can do all you want to the car and you'll not be rid of the smell. You'll more than likely need to completely dismantle the ...
- 162k
2
votes
Accepted
If I go in and remove car evaporator, does that mean I will no longer be getting any smell problems?
All parts of the ac circuit get dirty - which is why you need to clean them.
Removing the evaporator will not remove all the smell and will stop the ac working.
The ac can be used to demist the ...
- 34.7k
2
votes
Why would a car have a burning smell, but only when going uphill?
Since the mechanic performed a pressure test on the coolant system that should rule out the cooling system leaking.
The transmission is under warranty for a limited period of time so you may want to ...
- 886
2
votes
Fuel/gasoline smell under car. Normal or problem?
You should not smell gasoline vapors. Usual causes are leaking fuel cap, leaking fuel tank, leaking fuel lines, leaking fuel filter, or issues with the evap system.
The evap should vent itself into ...
- 12.1k
2
votes
Temporary coolant smell in cabin when turning on A/C
Try washing down the engine compartment after a drive. The hot engine and careful washdown should not interfere with restarting after rinsing off dried coolant, oil and dirt. A nice warm day can help ...
- 1,420
1
vote
How to/is it safe to close/seal car vents?
One source of automotive HVAC odors is an old dirty cabin filter. These filters trap all matter of debris and other nastiness in the air. The organic matter can rot and cause odors as well as mold and ...
- 3,972
1
vote
Accepted
Can you use white vinegar to remove ac smells?
Firstly I assume you mean Lysol - lycol is a medication.
Secondly white vinegar - essentially acetic acid does have some anti-bacterial properties and might work. But I can't imagine it's going to ...
- 10.5k
1
vote
Accepted
What is this substance and does it cause a musky/dusty smell in car?
That just looks like grease to me.
The most likely cause of a smell is your air conditioning. Because moisture in the air condenses on the air conditioning evaporator in the passenger compartment, ...
- 25.5k
1
vote
Accepted
Is a burning rubber smell normal on a new car?
You are right to be paranoid about a new (to you) car. You are getting to know your new vehicle ... you just won't know about things, so ...
With that said, I'd say it's pretty uncommon for a "brand ...
- 162k
1
vote
Water logged car smell
We had a car where the customer went to a big show / match in London. He found a parking space - on a slipway to the river Thames... The tide came in and flooded the car - over the roof...
The ...
- 34.7k
1
vote
Water logged car smell
The best "cure" I've ever heard about for getting rid of any smell in a car is using an ozone generator. Using it correctly will get rid of all the smells in your car. It will also help with mold ...
- 162k
1
vote
Brake pad wears faster than other three
Welcome to Mechanics SE! It sounds to me like you have a sticky caliper that is preventing the pads in that corner of the vehicle from fully releasing when you're releasing the brake. This could be ...
- 23.4k
1
vote
Why is it that my car smells like it's overheating but my temperature gauge says that it's not?
What do you mean by smell of overheating?
To a random person not knowledgeable in cars, it could be a burning smell. That's burning oil so you have an oil leak to find, then.
However, for car people, ...
- 15.3k
1
vote
Accepted
Are oxide machines effective for permanently removing smoke odor from vehicle interiors?
It's been my personal experience that ozone generators are the best way to remove odors from cars. They don't cover up smells, but rather destroy the odor altogether. They will even kill mold and ...
- 162k
1
vote
Fuel smells inside the car when at idle
If you are driving with the heat on, not recirc, and you smell fuel, it's coming from the front of the car. The cabin air intake for most automobiles is right in front of the windshield.
You wrote ...
- 267
1
vote
Accepted
Fuel smells inside the car when at idle
Could be a fuel leak anywhere from the injectors, back to the tank. Check all fittings, o-rings, as well as rubber and metal lines. I had a similar issue on a different vehicle, and it ended up being ...
- 1,318
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