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Why do I smell coolant when I turn my car off?

Why do I smell coolant when I turn my car off?

If you’ve noticed an odd, sweet smell coming from your car after you shut the engine off you might have an antifreeze leak. It’s part of your vehicle’s cooling system, which controls the engine’s temperature so that it runs properly and doesn’t overheat.

What makes a car smell like antifreeze but not overheating?

The liquid has to be a 50/50 mix of water and ethylene glycol. It travels from the engine to radiator through a special hose. It redistributes the heat away from the engine to save it from damage due to overheating.

Why does coolant smell in the trunk after running?

In the trunk by the coolant cap there is a plastic shield. Remove this and you should see a coolant air relief, or “burp” valve. Sometimes you will see dried coolant in this area which could explain the smell you are experiencing. The relief valve gaskets may need to be replaced, or the screws may just be loose, causing the leak.

Why does my water pump smell like antifreeze?

If I still smell antifreeze after this water pump I’m going to be very disappointed. They have a lot of balls charging as much money as they do for these trucks and let them go through QA with this kind of crap. You’re right, this complaint has been all over the forums for awhile.

Why does my Dodge Ram smell like antifreeze?

It’s difficult to see but the shaft of the water pump has a super small leak that only presents itself while the pump shaft is turning. I found white residue building up just under the snout of the water pump on the passenger side.

What does antifreeze smell like?

Some people have compared the smell of antifreeze to maple syrup, while others have said that it smells more like a piece of fruit or even a piece of candy. This might make you tempted to smell antifreeze more than you would smell any of the other fluids that you put into your car.

Why are you smelling antifreeze from the vents?

What Does It Mean If You Smell Antifreeze Through Your Vents? If you only smell antifreeze when you step outside of your car, it’s probably because you’re experiencing one of the first two problems mentioned above. A leak in a pipe or hose or a worn-out radiator cap will usually lead to a strong antifreeze smell on the exterior of your vehicle.

What causes antifreeze smell inside the car?

Sweet: Antifreeze has a sweet, syrupy odor, and smelling it inside a car usually means there’s a leak somewhere in the cooling system. The source may not be easy to see. For example, the leak could be from a corroded heat exchanger (aka a heater core), which is usually behind the dashboard.

Why does it smell like antifreeze in my car?

If your car smells like antifreeze, it could mean that the vehicle’s heater core is leaking. The heater core is responsible for circulating warm air in the car’s passenger cabin. It works by drawing heat out the antifreeze/water mixture and then siphoning it through the cabin.

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Ruth Doyle