Not able to do it yourself? No problem. Find an attendant or mechanic at the station who can help.
If the tire pressure is normal, Watson says, the burning rubber smell could signal trouble with the brakes or the drive belt slipping, which are reasons to have a mechanic give your car a once-over as soon as possible. Wait too long, Watson warns, and the issue could leave you stranded on the side of a road.
Burning oil
Motor oil lubricates the engine, reduces friction and helps regulate engine temperature. A thick, acrid smell, especially if the dashboard’s oil pressure warning light comes on, can indicate your car is burning or leaking oil.
What to do: If you smell burning oil, Watson recommends having your car looked at immediately. There is a risk of fire associated with this smell. Checking your oil is step one, and you might be able to do this yourself. Open the hood, locate the dipstick, pull it out, wipe it off with a rag, reinsert it and pull it out again to check the level by looking at the notches on the dipstick, Watson advises.
If the oil level is low, look for signs of leaks. “Noticeable wet spots on your engine or below your car [after it’s been sitting in the driveway] can indicate an oil leak, as can a strong oil smell during or after driving,” he says.
Maple syrup
A sweet smell sounds like a good thing, but it could mean the car is leaking coolant.
Coolant is a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, and as its name suggests, it plays a crucial role in controlling the engine temperature, preventing it from freezing or overheating. Watson compares the smell of leaking coolant to maple syrup and says ignoring the saccharine scent could lead to engine failure.
What to do: To check coolant levels, turn the engine off. Watson notes that the engine should be allowed to cool because there is a risk of severe burns from opening the radiator cap. Once the engine is cool to the touch, look for the clear plastic tank known as the coolant reservoir. A line on the reservoir indicates the ideal level.
“If the coolant level sits below the lower guide mark on the tank, it might be time to add more coolant, so it sits between this mark and the one above it,” Watson says.
Be aware that burning or leaking coolant could be a sign of a larger issue, so it might be time for a trip to the mechanic.
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.