Once you smell a scent of oil in your vehicle, it may indicate a problem in your system. Do not ignore this sign. For all you know, your car might wind up breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
An oil smell may be caused by a damage inside the fuel tank, carburetor or fuel filter. On the other hand, it may be caused by an oil spill inside your vehicle. That is why it is important and crucial to have it checked immediately.
In the meantime, here are some tips to eradicate the smell.
- Find the source – Identify the origin of the smell. Remember that an oil smell may lead to a damaged system or car part. Find the source so you know how to get rid of the smell.
- Clean the spill – If the odor is caused by an oil spill, cleaning up the mess should be your top priority. Apply an oily cream to the stain to dissolve the oil and prep it for cleaning.
- Clean your fuel filter – If the smell is directly from your fuel filter, it means you need to clean out the dirt out of your filter to prevent the odor from spreading further inside your vehicle. If you can’t do this on your own, you can ask your mechanic to attend to this problem.
- Clean your entire car – Cleaning it from top to bottom will get rid of any lingering smell inside your vehicle. Take out your mats, vacuum your carpet, seat, and car interior. You can use the KevianClean Interior Defense to get rid the odor and wipe off the interior of your car.
- Ventilate your car – After cleaning your vehicle, allow air to circulate in your car for at least half an hour. Park your car outside and open all doors and windows. This will help naturally dry your freshly washed interior.
- Use an air freshener - You can also put an air freshener to freshen up the scent in your car. Other options include a car spray, hanging freshener, clip-on, and other various types. Pick the best type of air freshener that will suit your preference best.
- Clean your air conditioning – If you’ve done all the steps on our list and the smell still lingers on, check your air conditioning system and clean it thoroughly. Chances are, there might be bacteria building up in the vents which is causing an unpleasant odor especially once you turn on your air conditioning.