Most people assume there is no need to use your sense of smell when driving. But that’s not it. Any unusual signs in the car can affect your safety, including strange sounds and abnormal scents.
Indeed, if you sense a rotten egg smell in car when accelerating, you should pay attention to check it as soon as possible to take action.
This article will help you learn why and how to fix it. Let’s continue reading together!
What Makes A Rotten Egg Smell In Car When Accelerating?
Many reasons can make you hear a bad egg smell in car. In detail, three main reasons are damaged catalytic converter, failing fuel pressure sensor, and outdated transmission fluid.
Anyway, it is surely a sign of damage to the vehicle system or some of the engines.
Damaged Catalytic Converter
One of the most probable factors in the engine smells like rotten eggs is issues related to the catalytic converter.
This component is a part of the emissions system in the car. It plays a main role in cutting down on toxic emissions by transforming exhaust gasses into innocuous gasses.
When the gasoline meets the catalytic converter, this part will turn trace quantities of hydrogen sulfide into sulfur dioxide, which has no annoying odor.
Thus, the sulfur gasses won’t be processed correctly if the catalytic converter is damaged and cannot operate normally. That’s why you will notice this bad smell.
As a result, you need to change your catalytic converter if it is discovered that the catalytic converter is the source of the terrible odor.
Yet, when this component has no visible damage traces, the vehicle must be repaired because another part caused it to malfunction.
A Broken Fuel Pressure Sensor
Another reason is a broken or worn-out fuel pressure sensor. The primary function of this engine is to adjust how much fuel is used in a car.
Thus, should the pressure regulator be damaged, it might block the catalytic converter due to too much oil.
Sometimes excessive oil in the converter will prevent it from processing all of the exhaust byproducts. Thus, it causes car egg smell to come out of the tailpipe.
Byproducts produced from excess oil can accumulate inside the catalytic converter, overheating it and adding to the odor.
Old Transmission Fluid
My car smells like rotten eggs when I accelerate – why? The reason could be the transmission fluid.
When you neglect your transmission flushes for too long, the fluid can occasionally start to seep into other systems and release an unpleasant odor.
This mainly happens with manual transmission automobiles, and replacing the fluid as advised by your car manufacturer can frequently fix the issue when car exhaust smells like rotten eggs.
Moreover, if you can do it at home, you might be careful to prevent the transmission from slipping after the fluid change.
How To Fix The Rotten Egg Smell In Car
Change The Broken Engine Part
The easiest way to eliminate the terrible egg smell in your automobile is to replace the broken component that’s producing that scent.
Changing the catalytic converter, fuel filter, fuel pressure regulator, or old transmission fluid may all work.
The smell ought to go away as soon as you replace these damaged parts.
In addition, it is crucial to scan the area around your car for any strange or unpleasant scents.
The burning or smoke odors might be a sign of more significant problems like an overheated engine, a fluid leak, or worn brake pads.
In this situation, you should always ask for advice from experienced technicians.
Temporary Deodorant Measures
When the car has rotten egg smell, but you don’t have time to take it to the auto shop, you can temporarily use some deodorant measures to reduce the bad odor.
They include scented sachets, disinfectant sprays, or fragrant essential oils.
Yet, these ways only help you be more comfortable in a short time when driving and cannot completely handle the smell. Thus, you need to ask a professional mechanic to check it whenever you have time.
Other Smells That Can Be Warning Signs Of Malfunction
Burning Rubber Smells
Your automobile may start to smell like burned rubber if a rubber belt or hose beneath the hood has become loose.
These components may shift and come into contact with hot engine components, which accounts for the burning rubber odor.
Sometimes a burning rubber smell can be caused by a fluid or oil leak, a worn-out drive belt, or even both. To inspect and fix your automobile, go to the nearest auto shop.
Exhaust Smells
Exhaust smells are one automotive stench that you should never overlook. They frequently show a leak in the exhaust system or inadequate door or window seals.
This automotive odor is hazardous since breathing exhaust fumes in a semi-enclosed area like your car may be fatal to both people and animals.
Take your automobile to a mechanic immediately to have the underlying problem identified and fixed if you notice an exhaust stench while driving.
Smell Of Gas
Pay notice when your automobile still smells like gas after you’ve filled the tank, especially when it persists for more than a few hours.
A persistent gas smell in your car might be a sign of a faulty gas cap, a leaky fuel tank, or a malfunctioning injector.
Any of these problems might be harmful to both your health and the fuel economy of your automobile.
Musty Or Sour Smell
Should your car’s air filter or drain lines start to smell musty, it may be due to an excess of moisture. If you breathe moldy air for an extended length of time, your health may suffer.
Bring your car in for top-notch A/C service if your car’s air conditioner smells like vinegar or soiled socks.
This will help keep allergies and unpleasant odors at bay while also preventing future harm to your car’s components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Normal For Your Car To Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
It isn’t normal to hear any abnormal smell in your car, let alone a rotten egg odor. All vehicles are designed to transfer sulfur to no-smelling gasses during combustion.
Thus, if the car exhaust smells like sulfur, the engine must have problems.
As mentioned before, this smell mainly comes from the damaged catalytic converter, failing fuel filter, and transmission fluid.
Please pay attention to this sign and repair it as soon as possible to enhance the driving experience and safety.
How Do I Fix The Exhaust Smell In My Car?
You just need to stop the exhaust leak to solve this issue. This might be as easy as reconnecting two broken sections or welding the exhaust pipe’s hole closed.
Alternatively, you could require more extensive maintenance on the exhaust system, including replacing a gasket in the exhaust manifold leaking.
Conclusion
This article has provided you with 3 main reasons why there is a rotten egg smell in car when accelerating, namely a broken catalytic converter, a failing fuel pressure sensor, and outdated transmission fluid.
While driving, you should pay attention to some strange smells for timely handling. This way, you can ensure your safety and improve the riding experience.
If you cannot deal with the problems yourself, you should turn to a reliable mechanic to have a look and repair if needed.