What is a normal engine smell?

[bill dalton]

I have 25 ecoboost xl with about 1700 miles on it. Every engine has its own smells and quirks.

I’m used to my wife’s ecoboost- escape, my maverick recently started smelling enough you can get a whiff when you stop driving and walk past the hood drivers side.

Under the hood- looks clean- nothing leaking under the truck. I plan on doing a break in oil change in a bit so I’ll get a closer look but I’m just curious if this is just a normal smell. Not really burning, not sulfur or any of the other telltale signs-

thanks!

Pretty flowers ! No really, I'd have to say nothing.

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[Gpp]

Pretty flowers ! No really, I'd have to say nothing.

Well,after working on cars of all makes and type since 1965 i never new a car engine to ever have a particular smelli will just leave it at that!

 

[ducktales27]

I have only been doing work in the driveway since the 80s but I always pick up on how my vehicles sound, smell, move and notice if anything is off. My truck seems better today. It just smells “like engine” and feels hot after driving . There’s a normal basic odor of metal I get. So I think it’s all good. Might have been the piece of tape I pulled out yesterday

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I have only been doing work in the driveway since the 80s but I always pick up on how my vehicles sound, smell, move and notice if anything is off. My truck seems better today. It just smells “like engine” and feels hot after driving . There’s a normal basic odor of metal I get. So I think it’s all good. Might have been the piece of tape I pulled out yesterday

Yep,
Kind of like being blindfolded and led into a harbor freight.

 

[Chops]

“New engine smell” is somewhat similar to “new car smell”. Similar to the smell of large amounts of new plastics “outgassing”. In addition to plastics, the engine bay is also burning off greasy fingerprints and any assembly fluid/lubes/etc left on any metal surfaces.

Some folks like/dislike the new car/engine smell. I still have a bit of both remaining after about a year - but my truck is garaged & lightly used. It will continue to fade.

Now if you see any wisps of smoke or vapor giving off a smell - that would not be normal. But there could be invisible signs too - if your passenger ask you to “pull their finger” for example.

 

[Tbone289]

Yep,
Kind of like being blindfolded and led into a harbor freight.

Are you speaking from experience Glen?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Are you speaking from experience Glen?

Have you been into a Harbor Freight it's quite common?

 

[Tbone289]

Yep, all the time. But, never blindfolded.

They don't bother me. I grew up around automotive shops that smelled like gear oil, so HF smells sweet and flowery in comparison to me!

 

[MavStangVa]

Yep, all the time. But, never blindfolded.

They don't bother me. I grew up around automotive shops that smelled like gear oil, so HF smells sweet and flowery in comparison to me!

Some people hate the smell of tire stores. Some of my fondest childhood memories was going to Sears, 35 miles away and smelling the new tires as Dad picked out his new bias ply tires that would last 6 months . I told my late wife once that Channel No. 6 should smell like new tires.

 

[matmondro]

Some people hate the smell of tire stores. Some of my fondest childhood memories was going to Sears, 35 miles away and smelling the new tires as Dad picked out his new bias ply tires that would last 6 months . I told my late wife once that Channel No. 6 should smell like new tires.

Love the smell of fresh tires! I need a candle that smells like that; not particularly burning rubber lol, but just smells like a tire shop.

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