Burning smell when constantly doing maneuvers
I'm a learner driver and constantly practising manouvres , but car seems to give off burning smell after constant practice. My car is automatic transition , / year is roughly around 2003 Vauxhall corsa
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there. Unfortunately, we don’t typically work on Vauxhall Corsas here in the U.S., but there are a few items that could cause a burning smell including a leaking engine or transmission oil, a "petrol" leak under the hood (as I believe it’s called abroad). If you’ve been driving in the same area for extended periods of time, it might also be caused by your tires or brakes getting overly hot. Keep up the practice, but if the issues continue, I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the car is giving off this smell.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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The oil is probably leaking down onto the hot exhaust system and burning off — leaving an odor but no drops. As long as the oil level doesn`t drop below a safe level, this leak isn`t harmful. But if you`re going to keep the car, I`d recommend having the gasket replaced.
If Your Car Smells Like Acrid Smoke Or Burning Oil
If you notice the smell not long after an oil change, the leak might be caused by a loose drain plug or filter that wasn`t properly attached—or an oil cap that wasn`t screwed on tightly enough.
Hello, You likely have a small oil leak on the valve cover, or another place that is leaking on the exhaust. Also, if the smell is sweet, like antifeeze, you may have a small coolant leak as well. Lastly, check smell the wheels to see if the brakes are the source of the smell.
A burning smell in your car could be caused by several things, including a burned-out electrical fuse, an overheating A/C compressor, or worn out brake pads that need to be replaced.
However, a bad PCV valve is a tiny, inexpensive part that can cause an engine to burn oil if it goes bad. Replacing it is fast and easy! If your engine is burning oil, hope that it`s due to a bad PCV valve.
If the burned oil smell is coming from the tailpipe (bluish white smoke), it is a symptom of oil leaking into the combustion chamber, which means it is getting into your exhaust system.
There are other indicators that will suggest you have an overfill problem, including blue exhaust smoke, a burning smell, an oil leak, or a high reading on your oil pressure gauge (if equipped).
More commonly, coolant will leak from cracked hoses or bad radiators, a far less severe problem. Leaking coolant has a sweet, warm smell, and is easily recognizable. It smells more like vapor than smoke, like the difference between steam from a boiling pot of water and smoke from a fire.
When your vehicle overheats, it shuts your plans down for the near future. You know the warning signs. The dashboard lights up like a Christmas Tree. You smell funny odors like burning rubber, scorched oil or boiling water.
Reason #3: Bad Catalytic Converter
It can stop breaking down the sulfur made during combustion. As a result, excess sulfur in the exhaust gas can often be detected in the cabin as sulfur has a distinct rotten egg odor.
Technically, you can drive your car with a burning smell, but you shouldn`t! No matter how small, any cause of a burning smell can potentially turn into something serious. More often than not, the burning smell, when ignored, could even start a fire, which can be pretty dangerous.
Failing Catalytic Converter (Sulfur Smell)
Over time, the catalytic converter can become overheated, contaminated with gasoline in the exhaust or simply wear out. When this happens, you`re likely to notice a rotten egg, sulphurous smell coming from the exhaust.
One way to check whether a PCV valve is functioning is to remove it from the hose or tube and shake it. If you can hear a metallic rattling noise, it`s likely in good working order. If you do not hear anything when you shake the valve, it is likely that it is no longer opening and closing like it should.
Vinegar: If the oil smell in your home was due to a problem with your furnace and not a spill, you can mitigate it by placing dishes of vinegar near your furnace and in front of each vent. Replace each with a fresh container of vinegar every day until the smell is gone.
Clogged PCV Valve
When the PCV valve becomes clogged, it can cause oil to be pushed out of the engine and onto hot engine components, creating a burning oil smell.
Another common cause of burning rubber smells could be due to coolant leaking onto the engine and whenever this happens, the coolant will give off a burning rubber smell when you stop the car. Leaks in the radiator can cause a serious problem because it helps keep the engine temperature at optimum range.
Burning Smell
If you notice the odor of burning plastic, smoke, or melting wires, this could indicate that your transmission is overheating or that the transmission fluid is burning. Worst case scenario, this smell could lead to an electrical fire, which is incredibly dangerous for you and other drivers on the road.
Some common signs of a leaking head gasket include: Coolant puddles under your vehicle. Low coolant level in your reservoir. A strong, acrid smell when your engine is hot – some describe this as a “sweet” smell coming in through the car vents.
The filter is clogged: In addition to making your system work less efficiently, a clogged filter can also can cause the system to produce a detectable oil smell. Replacing the filter is often enough to fix the issue.
Blue smoke from the exhaust: Bluish smoke can indicate your car is burning oil during the combustion cycle. Burning oil smell: A thick burning oil smell could mean oil is seeping onto hot engine parts. Frequent low oil light warnings: Regular low oil warnings can indicate excessive oil consumption or a car burning oil.
White smoke in the tailpipe can indicate coolant entering the combustion chamber of the engine.
Burning plastic smell: From plastic valves to rubber seals, vulnerable engine components may begin to melt as your engine overheats, emitting the smell of burning plastic. Sickly sweet car smell: The coolant in radiator fluid is ethylene glycol, which is molecularly similar to the sugar compound.
If you notice a burning rubber smell from cars, it is often a sign that you have overheated the brakes or tires. Overheating usually occurs when your car`s clutch is slipping or not working properly. If you experience this smell and were using your clutch at the time, let the car cool down, and try again.
It gets even more concerning and confusing when car overheating suddenly returns to normal. This phenomenon can happen for many reasons, like a bad thermostat, a faulty radiator, or a coolant leak. As such, it`s best to get your car checked by a professional— like RepairSmith!
Relevant Questions and Answers :
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Burning smell when constantly doing maneuvers – 2003 Vauxhall Corsa
ANSWER : Hello there. Unfortunately, we don’t typically work on Vauxhall Corsas here in the U.S., but there are a few items that could cause a burning smell including a leaking engine or transmission oil, a "petrol" leak under the hood (as I believe it’s called abroad). If you’ve been driving in the same area for extended periods of time, it might also be caused by your tires or brakes getting overly hot. Keep up the practice, but if the issues continue, I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one YourMechanic, come to your location to determine why the car is giving off this smell.
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I’ve been told I have leaking valves. Burning rubber smell, no external leaks but dripping noises, car not overheating
ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like the valve cover gaskets are what is leaking. The gasket is made of rubber and can become hard and brittle over time and start leaking oil. The leak may not be one where it is literally leaving a puddle, but more along the lines of seeping out. The rear valve cover tilts toward the cab of the vehicle and when it leaks oil, this oil makes its way onto the very hot exhaust manifold. Both valve covers can leak enough oil at the corners toward the transmission to run down the engine block and end on the hot exhaust center pipe under the oil pan. Both of these pipes will literally burn the oil and produce the smell and sometimes smoke or what looks like steam. The condition will not go away on its own and will only get worse with time and use. I suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to confirm the leaks and avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several technicians available that can assist you with an oil leak inspection.
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Just found out that my vehicle has been leaking oil for at least 2 yrs. Would smelling that burning oil smell cause health issues?
ANSWER : Hi Larry. As the co-founder or a non-profit that focuses on education, awareness and screening for respiratory diseases targeting the automotive community, I am happy to answer a few questions for you to clear up some facts. First, there are multiple materials, chemicals, and substances on a vehicle that are emitted from the mechanical actions of the vehicle that MIGHT reduce respiratory function and lead to a diagnosis of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or other respiratory diseases. However, it is nearly impossible to prove the precise source that can cause respiratory problems. Whether due to excessive exposure to these substances, social choices (smoking), workplace environment, indoor air quality in the home, even certain genetic conditions, it is possible for lung function to decrease over time. At Right2Breathe.org, we always recommend that anyone that is experiencing any breathing issues, visits their primary care physician and have them complete a spirometry exam (a non-evasive breathing test). This will allow them to measure your lung’s function and begin the official diagnosis process. Thank you very much for asking this important question. Feel free to contact us if you have further questions.
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Plastic burn smell when opening driver door. Cannot smell inside cabin. Oil full, brakes ok.
ANSWER : Hi there. It is very difficult to "guess" as to the cause of a smell like you’ve described without being their to inspection the car personally. I would highly recommend having a professional mechanic complete a smell in the car inspection; especially if you believe it to be an electrical short.
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Smell of gasoline during driving on a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa
ANSWER : Start by watching my video "does your car smell of gasoline?" That will show you all the steps to do. But, in a nutshell, you’d want to check the gas cap to see if it’s loose or leaking.
You’d want to check for any gasoline leaks. If it is dripping, it is obvious as you can see it. But, on the engine, when they leak, a lot of times, it just evaporates. So, look around the fuel injector, the fuel lines, where all the connectors are, and if one area is really clean. Gasoline is a really good solvent. It will drip and it will evaporate, but it will clean that area and you’ll see that that area is the problem.
If you can’t find anything leaking, the next thing to do is go back to the tail pipes and smell them a little. If you smell gas there, that means that the engine is running poorly and that the unburned gas is coming from the exhaust. Then you need to work on the car, and have a tune up, or have the fuel injectors cleaned or replaced. But make sure you watch my video "does your car smell like gasoline?" That shows every step you need to do to find where the leak is. It’s only a three-minute video so you’ll figure it out pretty fast.
If you still need help with this, you could also have a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose the gasoline smell, find any leaks, and make any needed repairs for you.
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I have a strong burnt metal smell.
ANSWER : Most of the time, bad smells indicate leaks. Oil, coolant, or brake fluid can leak onto hot surfaces and cause some really potent eye burning type smells. But in your case, I’m suspicious of the brakes. If you have a brake caliper that is sticking, it can cause the car to pull in the direction of the bad caliper. It will also cause the brake lining to overheat and produce a really acrid smell as the binders in the lining burn off. You can check for this if you have a non-contact thermometer. Drive the car for a while and then check the temperature of the front wheels. One of them might be hot. If you want some help with this, you can Contact Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your bad smell and tell you what it means and what can be done about it.
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Gasoline smell in a 2003 Vauxhall Corsa
ANSWER : If it’s unburnt gasoline, maybe the spark plug wires are not working right. A lot of times the fuel injectors can be dirty and then instead of spraying a conical shape of fluid, it would be lumpy and won’t burn right. So then you can try something like my video "how to clean fuel injectors in your car" and have your fuel injectors pressure cleaned. Because a lot of times, they are not burning right because the injectors are not working right. I would try that, too. To verify the issue, you can have a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose this in person. They will be able to perform any repairs or services that are needed.
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Intermittent burning smell in the car
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds possible that there was some leftover fluid from a repair completed previously that is now leaking on the exhaust and causing a burning smell in your car. There could also be a very small or slow leak that is hard to see or find and causing a burning smell when it is hot. I would suggest that you you have the car inspected for leaks using a dye. This dye makes it easier to find small leaks. I would also recommend that you have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come and complete an inspection of the electrical wiring and components in order to determine the cause of your problem.
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