When car is put back in garage - I seem to notice a coolant smell. The fan runs for a while - normal I assume- but I do seem to get a whiff of coolant smell from the warm engine. Is this normal?

I'm not seeing ANY evidence of leaking.

Anyone have any experience like this they can share?

Thanks - OTF

 

Did you recently have a ventilation air oil separator failure? I did and replaced it upon advice on this forum. I am noticing the smell now after replacement. It's been sitting a week or two and I can't remember if the smell started with the failure or not.

I was thinking of posting a similar question that maybe I drove it too much with the issue....

 

when I park my car in the garage and pop the hood to cool it I get a coolant smell as well, no leaks and the level hasn't changed. so I'm thinking it is fairly normal

 

JZChen,

Thanks for reply. I've done no work to the Panny - I've only had it 5 months, bought CPO from dealer with 9,500 miles - I've added 3k since. It's all under warranty - just trying to see if this warrants a visit to dealer or not.

I truly love this car. I did add winter tires for colder weather here but that's extent of mods so far.

I'll check out what a "Ventilation Oil Separator" is here shortly! But either way - I'm quite sure I haven't had one done.

Thanks, Gregg

 

DW - thanks for post. Nice to hear I'm not only one experiencing this. I have assumed it would "alarm" at low coolant level. I have checked for leaks or signs of splashing visually under hood and under car and have found nothing.

 

Hi Gregg,

When I first responded I did not realize how new your Panamera is. (I apologise). Ours had around 46k miles when the separator broke, causing a check engine light and two codes. But anyways I replaced it. I now notice white smoke coming from the exhaust on cold morning cold start up, that I do not remember seeing before. Of course I wasn't carefully paying attention to exhaust color before.
As DogWood notes, if the coolant level is not decreasing then it may just be normal. I'll have to check the level soon and see on ours.

Sincerely,
Jesse

 

Just opened the coolant reservoir cap, and, sigh, it’s low. I guess I should update the thread I made on the two codes to change the air oil separator quickly upon finding oil in the MAP!

 

hey guys, just wanted to let you know that that smell of coolant is actually coming from the Coolant vent lines under the intake manifold. There is a plastic "T" connection that fails quite commonly. Its about $30-50 and should be changed out every 50k miles... Its quite simple, as you only need to remove the intake manifold and disconnect the plugs attached. With this said however, I would recommend taking this opportunity to change out the intake manifold gasket as well as having easy access to manually clean out the carbon build up in/on the valves. https://sierramadrecollection.com/co...15-p30293.html

 

Since that is not a hard part K-Seal would not work. Thanks for the pointer NormalFellow. I'll look into getting that part and the gasket, as well as take a look at the intake valves. That company you linked is quite near me it seems. Thanks for that also!!!