Seven smells you should NEVER ignore inside your car – burning plastic could be fatal to your motor

MOTORS experts have revealed seven smells that you must never ignore in your car.

Scents like burnt plastic or rubber could be signs of car-killing issues that cost thousands to repair.

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Specialists from GM Parts Direct revealed the true meanings behind some of the most searched-for car smells, according to Google listings.

Knowing what each indicates could help you fix it quickly and avoid dangerous faults.

A spokesperson for the brand told Sun Motors: "Is that smell of burning coming from a fire nearby, or your engine?

"And that sickly sweet scent - could that be coming from the drink in your cup holder, or could it be the sign of something wrong with your car?

"Our cars can make a lot of different smells, and understanding what they mean can be the difference between staying safe or ignoring something that could be expensive to fix, or potentially be very dangerous.

"You should never ignore them."

Rotten eggs

Motorists might be more familiar with the smell of rotten eggs from their kitchen.

They would rightly be concerned if it cropped up in their car.

The experts revealed that worry would be well-founded as the scent suggests some kind of problem with the exhaust system.

If, for example, the catalytic converter begins to fail, the car will release more unfiltered pollutants including hydrogen sulphide, which is responsible for an eggy aroma.

Catalytic converters are quite expensive, hence why they are often targeted by thieves, but the cost is nothing compared to the price of a full exhaust replacement that could be needed if the issue remains unaddressed.

Burning rubber

The most likely culprit for the odour of burning rubber is overheating brakes, especially if you've been in a lot of stop-start traffic recently.

This often goes hand in hand with worn brake pads, so listen out for a screeching or grinding sound when slowing down as another indicator.

Thankfully, it's pretty simple and cheap to repair, with a new set of brake pads and some gentle adjustments to your driving style usually more than enough.

If the smell persists or smoke rises from any other area of the car, get it checked immediately.

Burning oil

As you might expect, the smell of burning oil is often caused by an oil leak.

The oil lines running through the engine are secured by all manner of seals and gaskets, which can wear out over time and cause a leak.

If you can smell it strongly or your oil level drops rapidly, get a mechanic to take a look and see if they can locate the leak.

Pull over immediately and switch off the engine

Remember to check your oil regularly, ideally once a week, and top up when required.

Just make sure never to ignore it as if your oil level drops too much, your engine could seize and a replacement will cost thousands.

Sweet smell

Maple syrup doesn't often find its way into cars so if you catch a whiff of its sickly-sweet aroma, it is likely to be a sign of a major engine issue.

Coolant smells similar to the delicious dressing but is really not for putting on your pancakes.

Instead, it is vital to prevent your engine from overheating, so a leak needs to be addressed straight away.

Musty or mouldy

This is a pretty simple one: if your car smells damp it probably is damp.

Causes can range from a blocked drainage port to a clogged air filter, which make your motor the perfect breeding ground for mould.

Not only does it smell unpleasant, but it can also trigger allergies or asthma for passengers.

Thankfully, you can replace the air filter for a couple of quid and, if it doesn't go away, get the car checked over for any moisture hotspots.

Metallic

A strong metallic scent can be caused by a couple of different things but the most common culprit is wear and tear, either to the brakes or the engine.

Get the car professionally checked before the mechanical issue becomes any worse, and more expensive to fix, and it should be a relatively easy repair or part replacement.

And if the prospect of a big bill isn't enough to motivate you, leaving it could leave you at risk of a brake failure at high speed.

Burning plastic

This should be a relatively recognisable one as the acrid smell of burnt plastic is hard to miss.

Most commonly, this will indicate some form of electrical fault, which can often be a car killer.

The experts urged: "Pull over immediately and switch off the engine if you smell burning plastic, as electrical issues can be a fire hazard."