This study examines the occurrence of automobile-induced contaminants in mid-Himalayan river system. Water and sediment samples from the Uhl River, a tributary of the Beas River in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, were collected from a site adjacent to an automobile washing center. Along with the basic chemical parameters, oil and grease were extracted from the samples following established protocols. Samples of fresh and used engine oil were obtained from the local automobile store and used for comparison with the extracted oil and grease from the natural samples. The results revealed that the river sediment from the contaminated site contained 744 ± 0.5 mg/L of oil-like component. Further analysis of this oil-like component using UV-Vis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of benzene-like aromatic, naphthenic acid-like, alkanes, nitro compounds, and alkenes. Whereas most of the functional groups between reference material (fresh and used engine oil) and extracted oil were similar, a few new functional groups were present in extracted oil samples indicating environmental transformation. These findings highlight the occurrence of automobile-induced organic contaminants in the supposedly pristine mid-Himalayan river systems and warrant further investigations to fully understand their ecological and health impacts.