From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, truck drivers have been deemed essential service providers. You work hard to deliver everything needed – food, medicine, medical supplies, etc. Truck drivers often haul hazardous and waste materials to support critical infrastructure and services.
We know your job is important! That’s why the technicians at Continental Truck Services are working around the clock to help keep your truck on the road, providing essential services all across the country.
In this time of uncertainty in the world, knowledge is power. Knowing more about your truck can provide a certain level of certainty, even if it means knowing when your truck is in need of repair. And believe it or not, sometimes all you need is your nose. We’ve put together a list of some common smells that can indicate trouble with your truck.
Burnt Carpet Smell
The mightiest air fresheners will not fend off this smell! Also described as a burning resin or a pungent chemical odor, this “burnt carpet” smell may signal overheated brake pads or clutch. If you smell it, trust your nose and stop as soon as it’s safe to do so. If you come out and look, you may even see light smoke coming from a wheel. A heavy vehicle, sudden stops, mountainous roads, or bumper to bumper traffic can all lead to overheated brakes. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Do not drive the vehicle. It should be towed for repair immediately.
The Smell of Rotten Eggs
In most situations in life, a rotten egg smell indicates a problem. It’s no different in the case of a truck. A continuous burning-sulphur smell usually indicates a problem with the catalytic converter. There is a small amount of sulfur in the fuel. Normally, it is converted to sulfur dioxide, which has no smell. When the converter breaks or the filtering layers have worn down inside the converter, the sulfur is not transformed and produces a strong rotten egg smell. Don’t delay diagnosis and repair.
Gasoline Smell
If you smell gasoline after starting your truck, it may be nothing to worry about, or it could be indicative of a potentially serious problem. If the smell is light and goes away a few minutes upon starting your truck, and if your truck is old and/or it’s cold out, just mention this to us the next time you come in for a check-up. However, if the smell persists, there could be a leak in the fuel injector or the engine. Have us perform diagnostics right away to identify the leak.
If you smell gasoline after a failed start, wait a few minutes before trying again. If the odor persists, chances are there’s a leak in the fuel system — a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
Additionally, if you routinely top off the gas tank after automatic shutoff of the pump, stop! Doing so may eventually flood the charcoal canister with liquid gas and cause problems. This could be another reason for this smell.
The technicians at Continental Truck Services are highly skilled and certified to quickly and effectively fix any problem. We are here to provide top quality service at the fastest possible times. Call us today to schedule your appointment: (407) 591-6747. We are located at 9640 SIDNEY HAYES RD, Orlando, FL 32824, United States. Be safe!
