Four reasons you have a burning smell in your car

 Have you ever noticed a burning smell inside the cabin of your Clermont Toyota when you're out on the road? It's alarming, to say the least. However, we're here to help - our car care experts are explaining the most common causes of burning smells so next time you encounter this type of odor you know how to tackle it. Here's what our Clermont car care experts have to say about it. 

What causes a burning smell in your car, and what car care fixes it? 

There are four main types of burning smells to be concerned about when you're in the driver's seat. Here's the breakdown: 

Burning oil. If you smell an odor that reminds you of burning oil, that's probably exactly what it is. You most likely have an oil leak somewhere under the hood, and the oil is leaking onto the engine or other hot components near it. The oil hitting the hot surfaces causes an acrid odor to permeate your vehicle. If you smell this odor, don't let it go - you need to visit Toyota of Clermont ASAP to figure out where the leak is and fix it. An oil leak can cause your car to run out of oil and overheat, as well as damage the timing belt or crankshaft seal. And if it hits your exhaust, it could even cause a fire. Schedule Clermont car care! 

Burning plastic. If you smell burning plastic, it's more than likely that you have an issue with your Clermont Toyota wiring. Car wiring is often wrapped in plastic insulation and when it's worn down (or chewed off - it's soy-based so mice love it), the bare wires can singe the plastic and cause that awful smell. This is another odor you never want to ignore; if exposed wires touch one another, they can cause a short and an electrical fire in your car. Schedule car care! 

Burning carpet. Burning carpet is a weird smell, but it usually has a pretty easily diagnosed cause - your car's brakes. This odor starts to invade your car's cabin when your brake pads or rotors are overheating, especially if you mostly smell it while braking. You may have calipers that are getting stuck or your brake pads are too thin; whatever the cause, you'll want our car care techs to take a look at it. Ignoring this issue can cause premature brake pad wear (you'll have to replace them more often) as well as rotor damage, which can be expensive to fix. 

Burning rubber. Burning rubber usually isn't a smell you'll detect from hitting the gas too hard. Instead, burning rubber indicates that you have an issue with something made of rubber in the engine bay, like a belt or a hose. The burning smell indicates that whatever it is, it's being exposed to heat and is melting, which can do major damage to your car. 

Let Toyota of Clermont address burning smells in your car

Have questions about burning smells in your car? Call Toyota of Clermont today. We're open seven days a week at (352) 404-7001 and we're conveniently located just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road.