Have a 2004 turbo cab. I have noticed a slight coolant smell when the car is hot. The engine has been dropped a couple years ago and the coolant fittings have been welded and pressure tested. I am losing a bit of coolant but can't find a leak. Over a 1000 miles it might drop from max to min level in expansion tank. I just put some distilled water in it to top it off and looked after my drive today and know the metal clip is to relieve pressure. I noticed the plunger stuck up without the clip. Don't think the leak is in the engine area. I try to smell find the leak and the rear doesn't smell. I can mostly smell it sitting in the drivers seat with windows up.

I was thinking radiators but can't smell it up front or in the back outside the car.

Any ideas where to look? Car runs like a champ and doesn't get above barely 180.

 

heater core?

 

do your MM's have any white residual dried fluid? if so expansion tanks get hairline cracks and you can have em for YEARS without being certain.just a thought.. gl w it.

 

I will look at the motor mounts.Anyway to checkthe heater core without removal. Looks like you remove battery and trim under windshield to get to it. My tank looks nice and white and not yellowed. I plan on doing the coils, plugs and motor mounts over the winter. Thanks for the suggestions.. I am going to take off the front bumper soon to clean radiators and will check them then.

 

Check everything mentioned= leaks can be a beech to find.

 

This picture was taken with my car warmed up. Is it normal for the plunger to be up like that while car is warm?

 

push it down with your finger. sometimes they get stuck

 

I think I narrowed it down to the heater core. I took it out today and specifically kept the heat and air off. I drove around until hot and noticed a slight fog coming out of the vents. I will probably diy it. When you put the new heater core in can I use the regular type vacuum filler to pull the air back out of the system to burp it.

 

normal for the vent to push up when hot.
do not need to vacuum the system but is quicker

 

they get stuck, push it down or at least try, may need new cap. if you smell coolant, keep checking your coolant reservoir level, and keep an eye on temp gauge. coolant level cant drop in reservoir tank. if it does, you have a leak somewhere. - keep checking garage floor while pulling car out for any wet spots.

if you can smell coolant its a matter of time. best way is to take of the front bumper and inspect the radiators. (How do I know? Had the same problem, it was smelly from time to time) EVEN I TOOK the front bumper off, no signs of coolant leak. or spots of any kind, few week after, noticed some coolant leakage, - inspected again,- front radiator was leaking, behind.

ordered front/center rad from pelican parts, replaced, done. easy fix, no more coolant smell.

 

These expansion tanks can have hairline cracks that you can't even see and will let out coolant here and there.

-Jason

 

I had the same issue of smelling coolant once I shut my car off and opened the drivers door to exit. Would have to top off occasionally so I knew I was loosing coolant some where. Took the front bumper off and found the plastic end caps on both radiators had a substantial amount of residual white dried coolant. I never had even a drip on the floor. Must have leaked steam only when hot and under pressure. Replaced both radiators and no more smell or coolant loss.

 

^ ya, i've got the same issue goin in.. much as i try to deny it like most of my problems ignoring them dont seem to have any effect lol.

jut filled yesterday and it there it was, just magically sitting just above the min "line". well I didn't do nuthin different!

those csf have always looked purty darn good. great! another 2k upgrade on my 29k car

if only i had drops!..( that i could see! ) or that smell! SOMEthing argh lol. but truth is, y'all are right, you don't get from 'max' to 'min' without a leak. however small, dangit. but those csf have always looked purty darn good. great! another 2k upgrade on my 29k car.?! when WILL it ever end? never, of course,,)

in the meantine, the gf is driving her shiny new warrantied passat, couldn't be happier

 

Can you smell coolant more towards the front of your car? If you can it's probably those end tanks slowly seeping. Those CSF sure are pretty......with the bumper off.


-Jason

 

Seems like Vivid currently has the best deals on CSF radiators.