Car exhaust smells can be caused by many different things. The exhaust port is an essential part of your car, as it neutralizes the harmful fumes that are produced by the engine. The smells coming from the back end can vary; including odors such as rotten eggs, sickly sweet scents, or smell of un-burnt fuel. These are all signs that something may be wrong, it is essential to bring your car into a shop such as ours. DJ Foreign Auto Care can diagnose these car smells and help fix significant problems in the exhaust or engine.
Rotten Eggs
A rotten egg smell is due to a chemical compound called hydrogen sulfide. It comes from the small amount of sulfur that is present in the fuel. Usually, the sulfur in the fuel converts to sulfur dioxide, which has no odor. When a catalytic converter breaks or wears down, the sulfur is no longer being converted into the odorless form as previously mentioned. Another potential cause for this smell may be that the converter is plugged. Unfortunately, it is not possible to repair a converter, and it needs replacement. There are two other causes of a rotten egg smell. They are an engine that is running too hot, or a broken fuel pressure regulator. A fuel pressure regulator can be easily dealt with by replacing the fuel filter, but it is crucial to bring it to an honest mechanic such as us here at DJ Foreign Auto Care to ensure you are addressing the correct problem.
You Have A Leak
Overpowering exhaust smell in the car usually means that there is a leak in the exhaust system. Holes could be in the exhaust pipe, tailpipe, or even muffler. A worn down part of the car interior could also be letting exhaust into the cabin. We advise you to check the door seals and the rear doors. This could lead to a severe problem of carbon monoxide leaking into your car. If you would prefer to have a certified technician give your car a once-over, DJ Foreign Auto Care offers exhaust leak diagnostics to help pin down a problem.
Problems with the Heater Core
If you notice an antifreeze burning smell, it is possible that the antifreeze is leaking into the heating system. This leak can be coming from a hose to the heater core, or the heater core itself could be cracked. Typically you will able to see the antifreeze dripping onto the ground or running down the side of the heater core. A heater core may also have broken seals. The smells coming from a leak in the heater core can smell like maple syrup, butterscotch, or even cinnamon. If you aren't sure what your smelling, our trained noses at DJ Foreign Auto Care can help you out!
Gas Smell from Exhaust
If you notice a smell of gas coming from the exhaust, it usually means there is an issue with the air and fuel mixture due to a fuel injector sending too much gas through the engine, of which not all is burning. This problem is fixed by having your engine properly tuned. It is also important to be aware of the manufacturers recommended fuel type, and fill your car with said recommendation. Fuel injectors can become clogged and need cleaning, which can happily be done by us at DJ Foreign Auto Care.
Regardless of the which smell is coming from your vehicle, it is crucial to have your car serviced at a certified shop. Us here at DJ Foreign Auto Care are happy to be there for you and your vehicle..