Keeping an eye on your car permanently is the best thing you can do. Nevertheless conventional routine service is designed to keep your Volkswagen Golf running smoothly over time, some unpredicted breakdowns can add heavily to your annual motor vehicle budget. Today we’re going to look at your sense of smell, and the clues it can give you about a possible breakdown, that’s why our team has created this article to help you in case you notice a burnt plastic smell coming from your Volkswagen Golf . To help you verify that it is nothing serious, first we will highlight the different things that can create a burnt plastic smell on your motor vehicle, then, in a second step, how to discover the source of this burnt plastic smell on your Volkswagen Golf? .

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The different possible roots and risks of smell of burnt plastic on a Volkswagen Golf

So we begin our article content with the different possible roots of burnt plastic smell on a Volkswagen Golf . In general, noticing a plastic or rubber smell is hardly ever a good sign. In actual fact, modern cars are full of it and it could be the sign of a critical breakdown. Below we will talk about the different possible origins of burnt plastic smell:

  • Transmission oil: This is the main possible origin of such an odor. In actual fact, the function of gear or transmission oil is to lubricate the different elements of your gearbox so that all the gears and pinions are not broken, it as well has a second function as a temperature regulator. However, in the long run, the oil will lose its performance and will not lubricate the auto 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 Volkswagen Golf. You risk pre-wearing your gearbox if you don’t take care of it.
  • The accessory belt: Nevertheless rarer, it is possible with wear and tear that your belt, which is specifically made of rubber, will decline and no longer rotate entirely 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 Volkswagen Golf.
  • Faulty hose wear: This circumstance arises especially on Volkswagen Golf 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 think will bring about the plastic auto 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 issue is the breakage of the accessory belt.
  • A body component: Less general, especially present on Volkswagen Golf’s that have suffered a small shock. Following a front or rear impact, wheel arches, bumpers or other plastic body auto parts that might have been bent might rub against one of your wheels and give off that burnt plastic smell. This may as well pre-wear out your tyres.

How to find out where the smell of burning plastic comes from on a Volkswagen Golf?

And now, to finish our article, we’re going to try to help you discover the origin of the smell of burnt plastic on your Volkswagen Golf . Now that you know the different possible origins of this smell, we’ll just have to do some checks to eliminate the tracks that don’t concern you and solve your issue quickly. If your Volkswagen Golf smells hot, don’t think twice to read our article on this topic.

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

    If you have any further questions about the Volkswagen Golf, do not hesitate to consult our Volkswagen Golf category.