How To Get Rid Of Crayon Smell In Car

How To Get Rid Of Crayon Smell In Car

Crayon smell in cars is caused primarily by thermoplastic adhesives installed in specific areas of a vehicle. These thermoplastic adhesives are used to seal or dampen sound in a car’s trunk, rear dash, or under the interior carpet, and their odor can be irritating if not handled properly.

To eliminate crayon smell in your car, remove excess thermoplastic adhesives from your car, change the cabin’s air filters of your car, and apply car air fresheners or air purifiers.

If you’ve paid attention to the smell of cars like BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Volvo, and Volkswagen, you will certainly have picked up on the pungent aldehydic fragrance of crayon. In this article, we’ll talk about how to get rid of that crayon smell, as well as the composition of thermoplastic adhesives that cause the toxic crayon smell in our cars.

How to Eliminate Crayon Smell In Your Car

In cooler weather conditions, you’d rarely notice this smell due to the dampness of the air, whereas the smell worsens during the Summer and hot weather as the sun mixes with the toxic components of thermoplastics that make it toxic to inhale. 

Most of the undesirable crayon smell emanates from your car’s undercarriage or the thermoplastic adhesives that act as insulators in the trunk and rear dash, or under the carpet and car interiors. Once you can easily identify its source, dealing with the unpleasant crayon smell may be easier than you thought

The following steps below will help you eliminate this odor:

  1. Remove Excess Thermoplastic Adhesives from Affected Areas 

Thermoplastic adhesives are found almost everywhere in cars, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to completely eliminate them. Simply locate the affected areas that cause the odor, which is usually behind the carpet or along the trunk’s sides, and remove the excess thermoplastics gently. 

  1. Remove Sound Deadeners from the Backseat and Rear Speaker Deck

These are the areas of the car that contain the thermoplastic adhesives that give off the crayon smell. Thermal insulators such as dynamat and dynaliner could be used to replace them.

  1. Open Car Windows and Doors to Allow Enough Ventilation

Another way to get rid of that noxious crayon odor in your car is to open the windows and doors. If you’re driving or parking your car in your garage, make sure to open the windows and doors frequently to let the crayon odor dissipate.

  1. Apply Cleaning agents and Air Purifiers

Here is a table showing the composition of thermoplastic adhesives that cause the Toxic crayon smell in car

CompositionPercentage by Weight
Acrylics6%
Cyanoacrylates0.25-15%
Nitrocellulose<0.5%
Polyamides12-15%
Polyesters25%
Polyethylene5-14%
Polypropylene14%
Polyvinyl acetate7%
Vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer15-20%

Cleaning agents and air fresheners, such as Febreze Plug-in air fresheners, can be used to eliminate the lingering crayon odor. Air purifiers that filter toxic air from car interiors, such as the Ozone Car Plugin, can also be used to keep the smell in your vehicle to a minimum.

  1. Replace Your Cabin Air Filter

This can help to get rid of that crayon smell in your car and leave the air smelling fresh. Another viable option is to duct tape any holes in your trunk to keep the crayon smell from entering the cabin.

Composition Of Thermoplastic Adhesives That Causes Toxic Crayon Smell

According to Manufacturers, the following thermoplastic adhesive components found in cars cause the unpleasant crayon smell:

Although car manufacturers have repeatedly stated that the unpleasant crayon smell has no effect on the driver’s health, these toxic VOCs components have underlying health implications when mixed with plenty of air or inhaled in large quantities.

Drivers of some cars, such as the Mercedes Benz C-Class series and Volkswagen, have experienced dizziness, eye irritation, nausea, respiratory problems, headaches, and decreased immunity as a result of the crayon smell in their cars, proving that the manufacturers’ claims are unjustifiable and necessitating the need to eliminate the unpleasant crayon smell.

Why Does My Car Smell Like a Melted Crayon?

If your car has a burnt crayon odor, it’s the first thing you notice when you walk in. The crayon smell is easily detectable, with a scent that is a mixture of earth clay, making it unpleasant and irritating.

This smell may appear unexpectedly due to seasonal changes or exposed thermoplastic regions of your vehicle. Due to the sheer waxy composition of the thermoplastic adhesives that heat up, the crayon smell is common during the summer season. During this season, the high temperature causes the adhesives to emit this odor into the cabin.

This crayon smell can also come from your car’s undercarriage or interior fittings, which are made of paraffin wax or thermoplastic adhesives, so always be on the lookout and follow all the steps discussed to get rid of the unpleasant crayon smell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What Does It Mean If Your Car Smells Like Crayons?

BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, or Volkswagen drivers most likely experience it. If your car has that burnt crayon smell, it means that certain areas of the car have excess or exposed thermoplastic adhesives that need to be removed.

Q: Is The Crayon Smell in My Car Toxic?

The components of thermoplastic adhesives make the odor toxic to inhale in large quantities. You may experience dizziness, respiratory problems, nausea, headaches, and eye irritation, all of which are dangerous to your health.

Q: How Do You Get Rid of Crayon Smell?

The crayon smell in your car can be eliminated by removing the excess thermoplastic adhesives in your trunk, rear dash, and carpets. You can also ensure adequate ventilation, use car air fresheners, and replace your cabin air filters.

Final Thoughts

The crayon smell in your car is an unpleasant situation to be in. It’s either from the thermoplastic adhesives installed in your car or from the air filters. Next time you encounter this problem, you now know what to do.

References

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1446488

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/846663.shtml

http://www.autosofdallas.com/blog/why-does-my-mercedes-benz-or-bmw-smell-like-crayons/ 

https://www.britannica.com/technology/adhesive/Synthetic-adhesives

https://youtu.be/VUnUDJ2_kHM https://youtu.be/WI6ywzN7Now

Similar Posts