My Car Smells!

[shortlad]

Don't know if I have a problem so some advice would be much appreciated.

When my car gets hot (normal running temps) it smells of coolant. Does this mean a leak or is it 'normal'?

It never over heats, runs at a good (low) temp on the move and the fan cuts in and out as needed.

[Steve_T]

My chim' smells a bit of coolant when it's warm too. However, when I check the level in the expansion tank when the engine is cold, it looks unchanged. If you're not obviously using coolant and the temps are good, no over heating etc. then pick it up next service. If you are using/losing coolant, always better to deal with sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

Steve

[trefor]

Mine does the same - doesn't use any coolant, but you get a wiff of it ocassionally when it gets hot. Weird.

[Toby1975]

After a while - mine kind of starts to smell a little like damp. not sure about the coolant smell - will sniff harder next time.

[Big Al.]

Are you sure it's coolant you can smell? not just a damp carpet drying out smell, "Musty" A few squirts of febreeze (sp) can cure the musty type of smell.

[shortlad]

Hi guys and girls... thanks for the response so far.

It is defo coolant I can smell. It comes from the front of the engine bay on the drivers side where the (not sure talking about the right bit??) expansion chamber is. Thingy with the blue lid. You can tell I'm a mechanice!!!

[beljames]

When very hot the expansion tank pressure cap (or swirl tank cap if appropriate) will lift slightly to release some pressure. This is usually what has happened when the car 'overheats' and emits a spectacular plume of steam.

Under normal circumstances the cap just puffs out some of the extra gas. Its more likely to happen when the coolant system is slightly too full. The gas smells of coolant (obviously) so you might pick it up in the drivers seat.

Worth keeping an eye on the coolant level (when it is cold) nevertheless.

[simpo one]

And making sure the cap's on tightly.

[shortlad]

simpo one said:

And making sure the cap's on tightly.

MMMmmmmm obvious but have I looked? Have I f##k!!

Will check that one out, red face if it's loose!!

Cheers for all the advice.

The Short1

[pbrettle]

When mine gets hot - I start smelling.... heat soak is nasty, especially in this weather..!

[drum4it2]

shortlad said:

simpo one said: And making sure the cap's on tightly. MMMmmmmm obvious but have I looked? Have I f##k!! Will check that one out, red face if it's loose!! Cheers for all the advice. Hi, I'm having murders with my cooling system at the mo' (see other post!!) but one thing I had was a very blocked expansion tank - so the coolant level wouldn't drop even if the Rad' was cracked in 2! Not that relevant but worth checking maybe? Hey, add some perfume to your coolant - sorted! The Short1

[Ed Bilboe]

Hi Shortlad

Worth checking the rad too. Mine had a weep that caused a small puddle to appear on the floor at the base of the rad (passenger side) I thought it was rain water as it was below the long bonnet vent. Engineer at work spotted it straight away. After a month of monitoring the coolant level (very small loss) I decided i Better get it fixed before it became more serious. Webbs Autos are replacing the rad whilst they respray the front.

[jessica]

I had a small leak of coolent from the pipe just above passenger footwell....Maybe this is what u can smell.. A quick tighten of the jubilee clip..(ta 4 that boys at Chris Neils )..All is well.

Maybe this is what u can smell??

[shortlad]

Well spanners out this weekend to see if I have a leak.

New rad last year so it shouldn't be that.

Thanks for the advice.