Coolant smell
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Fairmont WV
Coolant smell
I am experiencing a coolant smell from the engine after driven and shut off. No coolant seems to be missing, but it really smells like coolant on hot engine component. No leak is apparent.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,029
Likes: 9,780
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Could be the water pump. It took a few months and a few thousand miles before the leak in my pump became visible enough to verify a leak. Let the car sit for overnight, then lift in the air and check the bottom of the crank pulley and behind the water pump. If the pump has been leaking just a small amount you may see some on the bottom of the pulley. If you start the engine it will get slung off and you won't be able to tell. If you feel dampness or something sticky behind the pump it is a sure sign of a leak.
Bill
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 914
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Georgia
Leak
Trust me, you have a small leak somewhere, better have it pressure checked just to be safe...could be something as simple as a hose clamp on the bottom, or the water pump starting to go..Got the same issue on my wife's 3800 Park Ave....137K miles, original water pump..
a simple pressure check will point to the problem.
