Do you experience a bad stench coming from the interior of your vehicle? Do you perceive a foul odor as though your car smells like rotten eggs?
If this is you, don’t feel bad anymore. You have a solution here.
This article puts together reasons why your car smell like rotten eggs, what you can do to remedy this situation as well as some frequently asked questions across this scope.
Let’s begin!
Reasons Your Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Whenever gasoline gets to the catalytic converter, it will change every amount of hydrogen sulfide available into sulfur dioxide.
The effect is that the catalytic converter would not process the gases as it should, resulting in the release of smell like rotten eggs. In that case, you would need a new catalytic converter.
Hydrogen sulfide is present in the fuel. It is a toxic substance with a rotten-egg odor. The catalytic converter is used in the regular combustion process, to transform some of the most toxic compounds present in the exhaust fumes, like hydrogen sulfide, into less dangerous ones.
Among them is hydrogen sulfide, which is transformed into odorless, safe sulfur dioxide.
Exhaust gases, hydrogen sulfide included, are released from the exhaust and occasionally taken back up and into the engine bay too, where they can enter the cabin again when something disrupts this conversion process.
1. Fuel System Issues
Hydrogen sulfide is a compound capable of causing harm, it has the scent of spoiled eggs, and fuels contain it.
To convert very harmful chemicals to less harm-causing ones, the exhaust gases (hydrogen sulfide included) are dispatched into the catalytic converter, in the normal combustion process. Changing to less harm-causing and unscented sulfur dioxide is one of the things hydrogen sulfide is converted to.
Exhaust gases, hydrogen sulfide included, are evicted out of the exhaust, they can also move back to the cabin and even sometimes up back, and reverse into the engine bay; this happens when something interferes with their conversion process.
Fuel systems having the capacity to produce spoiled egg scent, have mainly two components.
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Fuel Pressure Sensors
A problematic fuel pressure sensor will send the wrong information on the amount of fuel pumped into the combustion chamber, to the car.
Unburned fuel will go into the exhaust and gum up the catalytic converter; this tells that the car can shoot up a lot of fuel. The rotten egg smell is caused when hydrogen sulfide inside the fuel probably escapes.
Fuel Filter
Particles and dirt present in fuels are stopped by fuel filters from going into the remaining part of the fuel system. When you observe fuel leakage around or in your car or a gasoline scent, you must address it immediately. Fuel leaks are a dangerous fire threat.
2. Spilled Transmission Fluid
A scent, the same as spoiled eggs is made, when transmission fluids remain in a car for a long period, without being replaced. This may occur if fluid spills and scorches anytime it meets high-temperature engine parts.
3. Stored Car Battery
Sulfuric acid and spilled egg-scented gas, are contained in Lead acid car batteries. To avoid harm to other parts and your well-being, discover and be certain that the battery isn’t spilling.
Battery spillage can be caused by a mechanical problem, overcharging the battery, and when the battery encounters many other interior electrical issues.
Several batteries are kept inside the cabin (i.e., beneath the seat) or trunk, where some batteries are stored. These batteries are usually closed up or aerated.
However, if your battery isn’t closed up, the spilling of harm-causing gas into your passengers’ side may occur. You will need to repair the battery venting system quickly.
4. Bad Catalytic Converter
Given that the catalytic converter is the component, which changes smelly gases to odorless gases, it is reasonable to examine it. If it is fatigued or spoiled, it won’t be able to work properly.
Combustion problems usually cause the catalytic converter to be clogged too, for example, in incomplete combustion, unburnt fuel is sent into the catalytic converter.
This could block the honeycomb pattern’s interior, which makes the catalyst unable to do its work; this happens because it shouldn’t be there. You must have to solve this quickly, because blocked catalytic converters can be hazardous, and can also cause a fire.
5. A Dead Animal
Although all that we have pointed out up until now are mechanical issues, there is a handful of other feasible expositions.
An example of such which occurs more than you think is a deceased animal (mostly a rat or mouse). In most cases, exhaust systems and engine bays suit the bill because animals find a cozy area to doze if the atmospheric condition is chilly.
But, switching on your vehicle may lead to the death of these animals. When this occurs, their bodies’ starts to decompose. This, as imagined, won’t give out a good odor, and your car would ooze an annoying and unpleasant smell.
6. Hidden/Forgotten Groceries
Sometimes, a spoiled egg smell could also be caused by a spoiled egg. Though this may not be a possible event, till, foodstuffs fall into the vehicle a few times and hide beneath the seat.
Alternatively, it is very possible that a friend or partner broke an egg in a concealed area of our car. But, in one way or another, when you perceive spoiled eggs in your vehicle, it could be because there are spoiled eggs, broccoli, rotten milk, or many other spoiled groceries inside your car!
How to Do Away With the Rotten Egg Smell?
Okay, you now know that your vehicle has the smell of a spoiled egg. At this very moment, you should find out all the things you have to carry out, to get it fixed.
Yes, it can be taken to the mechanic, yet, in as much as that is your plan, we extremely suggest finishing the process below first. This will help you understand what’s happening, give you a better experience, and also reduce the cost you’ll most likely spend.
Scan for Trouble Codes
Firstly, if your vehicle’s engine light or any other light had come up, checking these dash error lights or any error code is very important. To know what is required to be fixed, get an automotive scan device of the highest quality.
On the other hand, you can take the car to a localized section supply, for example, an AutoZone, so that they can interpret the code without having to pay for anything. It is extremely advised to ensure that there isn’t a code or a malfunctioning error light left unattended.
Examine Transmission Fluid
Afterward, the transmission fluid service interval should be checked for your car and compared to the previous time the oil was changed.
When there is an important difference, there is a fine possibility that the scent is transmission fluid connected. When you are short of liquid, you will have to scan several disparate components to know where it may be spilling from to repair the spill zone and replace the liquid.
Search Your Vehicle
Anyway, when there is no code, and the transmission liquid is not worn out, it is at this moment that you will have to search through your car. So, favor yourself and search through your car to cancel out unseen foodstuffs, a trick, or an animal that died in parts unknown.
Inspect Fuel Pressure Sensor
The next advised trial will be to check the fuel pressure sensor. However, an automotive scan tool can be used to accomplish this. It is equally far-fetched and does not show an engine code too.
As soon as you have looked through everything, to some extent, one can supposedly reason that the scent is coming from a malfunctioning catalytic converter. To remove the scent, change the converter!
Should I Continue Driving My Car?
You may be feeling that, as a spoiled egg scent is probably coming through an emissions part, you may be able to ride about for some time and not worry about it. Although it may be for a lot of vehicles, due to its prospective disadvantage, we strongly advise against that.
When the catalytic converter is blocked, it may start to overheat, and it may start burning when it gets extremely hot. This is the worst-case scenario and more reasons why you should avoid the smell persisting, but look for a solution immediately to avoid subsequent damage.
Also Read: Car Overheats When AC Is On (Causes & Fix)
Frequently Asked Questions – Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs
Why would my car smell like eggs?
Any time gasoline enters the catalytic converter, it changes the quantity of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide. This makes the catalytic converter not refine gases the way it should and will give out a rotten egg scent. This will make you in need of a fresh catalytic converter.
What does it mean when your car exhaust smells like rotten eggs?
An exhaust with a well-defined toxic scent of sulfur, spoiled eggs, or sewer gas is probably because of a wrecked catalytic converter. After combustion occurs in an engine, toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide (sulfur) are made.
Why does my car smell like an egg fart?
A spoiled egg scent causes the brain to think of a lot of sources, for example, an earlier mid-day meal left beneath the seat, or farting. If this is the issue, it can be fixed easily. Otherwise, it may signify a badly operating engine, with one or both catalytic converter problems. A badly operating engine may make the engine grow into an excess load.
How can I fix the rotten egg smell in my car?
The simplest procedure for repairing the problem of too much sulfur is to condone the scent till you consume the tank’s fuel a little, and then change the tank’s finer gasoline. When the fuel system is the problem, or the Sulphur density is too much to ride with, you will need to empty the system.
How do I get the rotten egg smell out of my exhaust?
The finest method to eliminate the scent of a spoiled egg from your vehicle is to change the malfunctioning part. This may be a fuel pressure regulator, catalytic converter, fuel filter, or even worn-out transmission fluid. As soon as the suitable part is restored, the scent should vanish.
Conclusion – Car Smells Like Rotten Eggs
A thing is certain, if you experience a spoiled egg scent in your vehicle, it will not all go away. If not troubleshot and the issue addressed, it will keep getting worse. It won’t matter if it is a foodstuff you didn’t spot or a malfunctioning converter, the issue will worsen until you eliminate the source!
Therefore, if you cannot perform the job yourself, we advise you to take your car as soon as possible without postponing, to an auto repair shop so that an estimate will be given to you and then fixes made.