An oil leak can also enter the exhaust and result in a fire. Now you know what each type of burning smell from your car means.Lets also address some related questions you might have. Rubber hoses abound in the engine compartment of your car, and they're essential if you want your engine to run smoothly. If youre mechanically inclined, you should have a little problem performing these simple repairs, and eliminating the burnt rubber smell after you drive your car. 10 Issues + Quick Fixes, What To Bring When Buying A Car: 9 Important Items. It may be why it is not noticeable when driving at a normal speed. If you smell burning rubber while adding coolant to your car, its likely that the tank has been contaminated with something besides water. With any luck, it is as simple as your technician getting a little bit of oil on your engine block. How To Get FREE Junk Car Pickup For Cash? If you can see thick white or blue smoke coming out of the exhaust, it can be a sign that theres an oil leak in your vehicle. If there is not enough coolant in the cooling system, your engine can overheat and get damaged quickly. It can also happen if youre slamming the brakes while going down a steep hill. Its important to determine what exactly is causing the smell so that you can take action before any damage occurs. Technically, you can drive your car with a burning smell, but you shouldnt! Dealing with a blown head gasket is one of the fastest ways to deal with a completely damaged engine. After youve determined if the burnt rubber smell is caused by one of these seven reasons, you should have the necessary repairs performed as quickly as possible. Check seals for fluid leakage. Vibration and Burning Rubber Smell - Car Talk Community Mostly burning rubber smell comes from components around the engine where most of the heat is generated. Symptom: ShakingIf you feel a heavy shake in the brake pedal and/or with steering, you should get it checked because if you have to stop and the car shakes too much you might get scared and cause an accident, says Taheri. This creates a lot of heat and starts burning the clutch itself. If you can smell a burning smell in your car, this can be unpleasant, and it can put your off driving. Jiffy Lube Vs. Valvoline Oil Change: Differences & Which Is Better. 6 Reasons Your Engine Oil Smells Like Gas & How To Fix it, 5 Reasons Your Car Clicks When Trying to Start and Fixes, 8 Reasons Why Your Car Won't Go in Reverse & How To Fix, 8 Reasons Why Your Car Hesitates To Start And How To Fix It, 10 Reasons Your Car Is Losing Power When Accelerating, 6 Reasons Your Car Wont Start with Jump And How to Fix it, Car Shakes When Stopped or Idling? A loose oil filter can be caused by bumps in the road or improper installation by a mechanic. Oil Changing Problem if you havent changed the oil problem and some has managed to drip into the exhaust system or any or other part of your vehicle, then youll need to get the problem checked out. I sell cars and I write about everything automotive. Since the clutch is composed of a paper mesh, the excessive friction becomes the cause for your car to smell like burning rubber. How To Fix It: The easiest way to fix this problem is to take your vehicle into a mechanic and have them adjust the clutch. As you might know, the coolant is responsible for maintaining a maximum engine temperature within the acceptable range. Most people do not know that the brake pads contain rubber, and therefore can sticking brakes creates a lot of heat and heat this rubber too much. Symptom: Smelling burning oil, exhaust, or gasolinePossible diagnosis: Valve cover gasketsA bad smell is not necessarily bad for the car, but it's likely unpleasant for the driver, says Taheri.