Is That Waffle House Or My Car What To Do When Your Car Smells Like Syrup

Everyone loves waking up to the sweet smell of warm pancakes and maple syrup, but catching that aroma in your car is typically a bad sign.

If your car smells like syrup, it most likely means that there's a coolant leak in your car. Coolant, also known as antifreeze, helps regulate the temperature of the engine system in your car. If your engine runs without a sufficient amount of coolant, it will quickly overheat and fail.

The maple syrup scent will usually be faint at first. If you don't have breakfast leftovers in your vehicle, it's important that you immediately check the coolant level at the first whiff. This will help you understand the severity of your coolant leak. Although there are products that will temporarily help with a coolant leak, nothing will fix the leak except taking it into an auto repair shop as soon as possible. If you wait too long to repair a coolant leak, it will continue to get more damaging to your vehicle and more expensive to fix.

There are many places and reasons that a coolant leak can occur, so it's important to take your car to a certified mechanic to assess the problem. An automotive technician will be able to fix the source of your leak before it causes catastrophic damage to your vehicle. Waiting too long to fix a coolant leak can cause your engine to seize while driving, which could lead to an accident or cause irreparable damage to the engine due to overheating.

If engine failure isn't worrisome enough, another reason to quickly repair a coolant leak is the danger to pets and small children. That sweet smell also has a sweet taste and may entice animals or unknowing children to taste it. However, the coolant is extremely toxic and dangerous to ingest. As little as eight ounces of antifreeze can kill a 75-pound dog. If you notice coolant leaking around your home, it's important to thoroughly clean the area with soapy water.

So don't hesitate if your car suddenly smells like a Waffle House on wheels. If you need a coolant leak repaired, give our auto repair shop a call today!