Keeping an eye on your car at all times is the best thing you can do. Although standard routine service is supposed to keep your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport running smoothly with time, some unforeseen breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. In this article we’re going to speak about your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible breakdown, that’s why our team has made this content page to help you in the event you notice a burnt plastic smell originating from your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport . To help you verify that it is nothing significant, first we will outline the different things that can produce a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to find the origin of this burnt plastic smell on your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport? .

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The different possible origins and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

So we commence our article with the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell on a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport . In general, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is never a good signal. In fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a critical breakdown. Down below we will review the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the main possible origin of such an odor. In fact, the objective of gear or transmission oil is to lubricate the different components of your gearbox so that all the gears and pinions are not broken, it also has a second objective as a temperature regulator. However, in the long run, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the parts and control the temperature as well, which will bring about the oil to overheat and thus give off that burnt plastic smell on your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. You risk pre-wearing your gearbox if you don’t take care of it.
  • The accessory belt: Although rarer, it is possible with wear and tear that your belt, which is specifically done of rubber, will degrade and no longer rotate completely on its axis. With the friction that this will bring about the plastic will heat up and burn out, this reaction will generate a strong smell of burnt plastic or rubber in the engine unit block of your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
  • Faulty hose wear: This circumstance occurs especially on Mitsubishi Outlander Sport that are starting to get a few years old or that have stayed a long time without rolling. In reality, storing your car unlike what you might presume will bring about the plastic parts to wear out more quickly. Hoses are the first to be suffering from this phenomenon. The rubber will disintegrate little by little and with the rise in heat of the fluid that circulates in it, it might melt. The risk of this problem is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less common, especially present on Mitsubishi Outlander Sport’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body parts that might have been bent might rub against one of your wheels and give off that burnt plastic smell. This may also pre-wear out your tyres.

How to find out where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport?

And now, to finish our content page, we’re going to try to help you find the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport . Now that you know the different possible roots of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to eliminate the tracks that don’t concern you and resolve your issue quickly. If your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport smells hot, don’t hesitate to read our content page on this topic.

  • Transmission oil: Nothing could be simpler, open your transmission oil cap (when cold) and verify that your oil is reddish in colour and fluid enough. If you find out debris inside, and it is darker, it’s time to replace it. Do not hesitate to seek advice from our content page to find out how to change the gearbox oil on a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
  • Accessory Belt: Visually check that your accessory belt is not in poor condition, it might also produce a whistling sound if it is in poor condition. Do not hesitate to replace it.
  • Hoses: For hoses, you will need to visually verify all your hoses to find out if any are frayed or melted. If this is the circumstance, replace them.
  • Body parts: Last but not least, the last element that can bring about the smell of plastic or burnt rubber on your Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, a body component, verify all wheel arches, that no component rubs against

    If you have any further questions about the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, do not hesitate to consult our Mitsubishi Outlander Sport category.