Coolant smell
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 437
From: Marlton NJ
Coolant smell
Hey guys
my 86 Vette just started smelling like coolant after the 195 degree thermostat opens. I see no leaks, nothing on the garage floor and not using a drop of coolant or oil or anything. I did the throttle body bypass, no leaks there either.
It runs down the highway between 180-190 degrees and around town between 195-210 degrees.
I am a total loss, anyone have any ideas?
Thank you
my 86 Vette just started smelling like coolant after the 195 degree thermostat opens. I see no leaks, nothing on the garage floor and not using a drop of coolant or oil or anything. I did the throttle body bypass, no leaks there either.
It runs down the highway between 180-190 degrees and around town between 195-210 degrees.
I am a total loss, anyone have any ideas?
Thank you
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Is your car a Z51? If so, you can check the additional connections for a small seep. It doesn't take much coolant to seep to give you that smell when the car is hot. Also, an old radiator cap that's not sealing at 100% can emit that smell when hot without you losing coolant. Gotta do the "sniff" test when hot to check that.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,583
Likes: 504
From: Indianapolis IN
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Unmodified
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
Oh, and also check your heater core shut off valve too. It can seep/weep and eventually drip a small drop onto the frame, enough to give that smell without leaving coolant on the floor. Do a sniff test and visual on that too when hot.
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