but mine was the same - a little coolant smell..from time to time... . found a heater hose slightly leaking, replaced it when I did a coolant flush/fill....
overheating/coolant smell question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 20
From: Liberty Hill Texas
overheating/coolant smell question
I know that my C5 may run a little warm now and then - especially in traffic, bit I feel like I am starting to smell coolant more then I used to.
When I drive to/from work, car is not overheating and it's temps when moving normally is 188-190 but when I sit at a light, it seems to me that I can smell the coolant type of smell more then I used to and that it gets warm quicker.
It "seems" that every thing is working fine, though and the car runs just fine. I think the issue (or concern) that I have is that it's just getting hot while sitting at a light faster then it used to.
So, my questions are:
1. Could this be nothing and I'm just **** about the car?
2. Just wait for something to fail and then I'll know what to fix?
3. Would a good diagnostic start be to flush and replace coolant (as I purchased car Aug 07 and it has not been replaced yet...
4. Should I look to replace anything else while I am replacing the coolant?
Thanks!
When I drive to/from work, car is not overheating and it's temps when moving normally is 188-190 but when I sit at a light, it seems to me that I can smell the coolant type of smell more then I used to and that it gets warm quicker.
It "seems" that every thing is working fine, though and the car runs just fine. I think the issue (or concern) that I have is that it's just getting hot while sitting at a light faster then it used to.
So, my questions are:
1. Could this be nothing and I'm just **** about the car?
2. Just wait for something to fail and then I'll know what to fix?
3. Would a good diagnostic start be to flush and replace coolant (as I purchased car Aug 07 and it has not been replaced yet...
4. Should I look to replace anything else while I am replacing the coolant?
Thanks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Usually, if you smell coolant, you've got a leak. Are you smelling it inside the car and not outside or mostly outside only? Inside, there is only the heater core. Outside, all of the hoses of course but the first place to look is the bottom of the water pump and its "weep hole". If you see coolant from that small hole, buy yourself a water pump right now and put it in now. Check the reservoir tank. The small nipple line from the top of it will crack with time and start dripping coolant. They cost about $50. Otherwise, look at the connection to the MAF where you probably have a coolant line running to it as well. After all that, start looking anywhere for the residue of the coolant. Also, you should check the oil for swirls in it rather just just pure oil.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 16,825
Likes: 0
From: One Particular Harbour
Cruise-In 9-10-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10,-'13
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Check your coolant tank for a crack. Mine was hard to find, but was cracked and leaking right up on the neck where the rubber hose connects to it.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: WHERE EVER I LAY MY HAT AZ
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It is somewhat common
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 20
From: Liberty Hill Texas
Once home, I let the car run and tried to find where it was leaking - following the hoses, looking under, round, etc.. Cannot "find" a leak. While it was idling, it got up to the 225temp and the fans kicked on, and it cooled off a a little, so at least I know the system is working.
What I noticed, on the way home with leaving the coolant temp up on the DIC is that it runs at 189/190 driving and at a stop it goes up to 198 pretty quickly. Then takes a while to get back down, and if there are a couple of lights, or a long one, the temps got up into the 200s. While stopping for a couple minutes (to get mail) temps started out at 205 and went up to 217.
Next, I am going to check to see if it's "full" on the overflow when it's cold. Could being low on coolant cause the same symptom?
Thanks for all of the posts.
What I noticed, on the way home with leaving the coolant temp up on the DIC is that it runs at 189/190 driving and at a stop it goes up to 198 pretty quickly. Then takes a while to get back down, and if there are a couple of lights, or a long one, the temps got up into the 200s. While stopping for a couple minutes (to get mail) temps started out at 205 and went up to 217.
Next, I am going to check to see if it's "full" on the overflow when it's cold. Could being low on coolant cause the same symptom?
Thanks for all of the posts.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 20
From: Liberty Hill Texas
Fixed... Found a small leak in the hose at the top of the overflow tank. Put new hose on. Seems to be just fine now.
I did discover I need to clean the radiator a lot more often then I have been!
I did discover I need to clean the radiator a lot more often then I have been!
