Today, cars are extremely complex technical means that provide comfortable movement from one point to another. However, like any other technical means, cars can periodically fail, which is associated with an increased load on individual vehicle components. Most often, when such problems arise, the driver and his passengers are faced with an unpleasant odor. Given the complexity of modern cars, these unpleasant odors can also be different. As part of this material, we will consider the situation when the car smells like burnt rubber. This smell can be indicative of a wide variety of problems, ranging from problems with the brake system to oil problems.
When such a problem is found, it is very important to diagnose the reasons why the car will smell like burnt rubber. If we consider the most common cases, then the cause of the problem is lost rubber hoses, towing clutches, burnt brakes or other auto components that have burned out. The thing is that many structural parts are made of plastic, and when a breakdown occurs, overheating occurs very often, due to which this plastic melts and gives an unpleasant odor. It penetrates the car through the air ducts and ventilation, which is why all passengers in the cabin begin to feel it. The main thing to remember is that an unpleasant smell is a sure sign of certain problems with the car.
We must say right away that such problems cannot be ignored. It is far from necessary that the bad smell is the result of some dangerous problem, but it is better to make sure. It is very important to deal with this issue as quickly as possible. The thing is that if you ignore such a problem for too long, then there is a high probability that the car will need a major overhaul, which will cost much more. At the initial stages, you can solve this problem with minimal losses.
Can You Drive a Car If It Smells Like Burnt Rubber?
If the car retains the ability to drive, then of course you can drive, but this is not recommended. The thing is that the smell of burning is often formed only by vital systems for the car, which means that such a trip can become extremely dangerous. You will not have time to notice how the car will become a dangerous threat to both you and the surrounding road users.
To find the exact cause of the breakdown, special diagnostics are required. It will allow you to find out what exactly failed and provoked overheating, which formed an unpleasant odor. Most often, they begin to check the brake system, engine, and fuel systems. As soon as you find the smell of burning in the car, you must immediately transfer the vehicle to specialists.
Causes of a Burning Smell in a Car
Now let’s look at the main list of causes that can lead to the smell of burnt rubber. Some of them can be eliminated by the driver himself if he has certain skills, and some problems can be eliminated only by a professional technician.
- Problems with Rubber Hoses
Very often the burning smell problem is the fact that something that is made of rubber is burning in the car engine. Most often, such objects are rubber hoses, with the help of which fuel is supplied to the engine or gases are removed. Most of the rubber hoses are connected to the engine compartment. They provide the car with its optimal mode of operation. All of them are fixed with special elements, however, if they break, the hose becomes looser, which can cause it to come into contact with a hot part of the engine. As a result, it starts to burn, which will form an unpleasant odor. However, at the initial stages, this does not threaten problems. The situation becomes serious when the lost rubber hose burns out completely, in which case the fuel fluid can ignite, causing the entire car to catch fire. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the condition of the hoses and how securely they are fixed.
- Engine Drive Belt
Another important structural element of your vehicle. The thing is that in each car, the engine is connected to other important elements using special belts. All of them ensure the full operation of the car. Thse main task of such belts is to transmit the energy of movement, as a result of which the knots will work.
In the event that, for some reason, the movement of the components associated with the belt is blocked, then in this case, excessive friction of the belt on a similar surface begins to appear. As a result, the belt will gradually burn out, which will cause this unpleasant odor.
Another danger is that the pulley may stop spinning, which is fraught with a more serious problem. An engine belt problem is accompanied by a sharp squeal, so you will definitely not confuse this problem with anything else. We need to make every effort to solve this problem as much as possible. It is necessary to check what exactly is preventing rotation and, if the belt is badly damaged, then take care of replacing it. Belts are already consumables that must be checked every six months, as well as replaced at the expiration date.
Engine Oil Leak
The smell of burnt rubber in a car most often appears precisely because of engine oil leaks. This problem is likely to be encountered by all vehicle owners. The essence of the problem lies in the fact that the oil begins to gradually enter the engine of your vehicle, where it will burn. Most often, this problem is associated with engine overheating, as well as excessively long driving in 1st and 2nd gear, because in this case the car overheats more.
Another problem with an oil leak is that the engine does not get enough lubrication and cooling, which can lead to engine problems. As a result, the engine can quickly overheat and fail. You understand that the overhaul of the engine will be incredibly expensive. Most often, the restoration of the cylinder head and the cylinder block itself is required.
The problem cannot be ignored also due to the fact that burning oil can lead to a fire. If the leak is severe, a fire will start, which can ignite hoses and other structural elements.
It is also worth understanding that the lack of sufficient oil in the engine will not allow you to start the car. It will signal you the absence of this oil using the dashboard.
The cause of a leak is usually a defective gasket that has been damaged due to some kind of abrasive element or due to long service life. You need to understand that all gaskets have a limited period of validity, which means that over time, in any case, they will begin to leak. To replace such a gasket, you need to contact a professional mechanic who can fix the problem.
Summary
So, no matter what causes the smell of burning rubber in your car, there is no doubt that the problem needs your attention. Do your best to find the cause of this problem. If you cannot do this, then you need to contact the relevant specialists. Even if you yourself understand, it is still recommended to contact specialists for a control check. So you definitely eliminate the possibility of an accident.
