Coolant smell, but no leaks!

[zerowkul98]

While my 2003 V8 Sport Edition is running normally, or immediately after driving it, i can smell the scent of the coolant. Ive checked levels and they are always normal. Never changes. I had the 90k service done last summer, had the water pump replaced with the timing belt. Again, there isnt a drip anywhere! Just wondering if i should look or check for anything.

...and yes, i did a friggin search before posting.

 

[Macaque]

Are you sure it's coolant? Could be another fluid that smells like it. Or coolant could have been spilled somewhere in your engine bay and is just now burning off.

 

[Burt]

Maybe a tiny leak in heater core?

 

[zerowkul98]

Well, how about people tell me some KEY areas to aim the flashlight to look for potential leaks?

 

[ChaosStarter]

Well, how about people tell me some KEY areas to aim the flashlight to look for potential leaks?

heater core - check the A/C drain tube underneath the car. If it was bad, you would have a pinkish residue from the coolant (assuming it isn't washed away by the evaporator condensation draining out).

Water pump - Check around the crank pulley, again, looking for pink residue. It would drain out around there.

Look for your heater core hoses and check clamp connections to make sure none are loose.

 

[jow]

We found a mystery leak/smell after I searched 1-2 yrs (116,00 mi) in my 1993 Explorer in about 2007 (with a coolant dye and black light). A friend had me to purchase the dye and add it from O’rielly’s Auto. We inspected it with a black light after two weeks of driving. We found small weeps in the hor radiator fins to ver tanks joints. The mechanic friend looked over the engine and Etc good on and off a lift due to his experiences. My complaint was it only smells in the garage after a good hot run. He suspected an intake gasket weeping and drying but the black light glow only came from the radiator's weeps. A new radiator solved the smell and very small loss of coolant (maybe ¼ qt per yr).

BTW I have owned a 2007 V6 T4R purchased 1.5 yrs ago with 43,000 mi to replace the hard working V6 Explorer + more. Averaging 3,000 mi a yr, I'll hope to get the years I got out of the Explorer (volunteering, handy-manning, firewood and fishing) + good rides down the roads. No fish, North Tx Heat has held me back to 5,000 mi miles, 48,000 total (3 oil changes) due to the 5,000/6 mo clause). The gas savings are good but I would rather chase a fish.

 

[zerowkul98]

The radiator could potentially be the cause. Yesterday i took it for a hour drive around town, and when i got out of the truck, i immediately opened the hood and started looking and sniffing. The smell seemed to come from the front, around the radiator....but here's the thing: I look at the small rubber hose that comes off of the resevoir (it's maybe 3-4" long, curves downward) and there is pink/white crusty dried coolant at the end....so im wondering if im just smelling the hot coolant fumes?

I just dont want to bring it to the dealership unless i know what's going on...im building a house and cant deal with getting ripped off (not that I could tolerate it any other time either).

 

[Otgixxer]

The radiator could potentially be the cause. Yesterday i took it for a hour drive around town, and when i got out of the truck, i immediately opened the hood and started looking and sniffing. The smell seemed to come from the front, around the radiator....but here's the thing: I look at the small rubber hose that comes off of the resevoir (it's maybe 3-4" long, curves downward) and there is pink/white crusty dried coolant at the end....so im wondering if im just smelling the hot coolant fumes?

I just dont want to bring it to the dealership unless i know what's going on...im building a house and cant deal with getting ripped off (not that I could tolerate it any other time either).

did you ever figure it out?

I'm having the same problem.

 

[geurillawarfare]

did you ever figure it out?

I'm having the same problem.

My experience:
2003 4Runner SR5 V8, always had the coolant smell even after doing water pump/timing belt and making OCD sure that the water pump was sealed... Still had the coolant smell and pink crusties around the drain tube for the overflow tank. Smelled this from 60k to 120k and then sold it, probably still smells.

2005 4Runner SR5 V8 #1, same as above, belt and pump at 110k, now at 160k, not sure if it still smells - Let me check and post back.

2005 4Runner SR5 V8 #2(In STRATOSPHERIC MICA!): Dealer did timing belt/water pump about a month ago at 100k miles, I bought it the other day, and noticed it does have the coolant smell and pink crusties.

I am wondering if this has something to do with underhood temps and slow seepage from the overflow tank due to overflow tank design. The overflow tank sits on the radiator and runs "hot as balls". Maybe the source of the smell is simply evaporation/weepage from the overflow tank onto the radiator. It seems like it would have to be leaking somewhere else to smell what I'm smelling up front... Let me use my highly tuned sniffer and see if I can figure out anything else. If I'm not too lazy this weekend maybe I'll put some die in it.



Oh, and it makes me really sad to look at my 2003 in my profile picture, why did I sell that sexy thing :'(

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Radiator Cap look good?

 

[geurillawarfare]

Radiator Cap look good?

I did replace the cap on my 2003 at one point and it made no difference. I only notice it when very hot. I always assumed it was just evaporation out of the hot overflow tank as I never noted a relevant amount of missing coolant.

 

[MACT4R]

I had that same odor during my run this weekend at Jacoby-burns canyon to big bear. I looked under the carriage and the hood...no leaks whatsoever. It was a warm run and I'm hoping that's the case. No odor today but will monitor.

 

[zerowkul98]

Hi guys. I've been linked to this thread for years now, and I'm driving sequoia nowadays, but I can tell you with my 2003 V-8 and my 2008 V8, both of them had the coolant smell and when I brought it in to the dealership and the head Lexus tech replaced everything (the 90k deal was done 3x between the 2 vehicles) both of them had crystallized an evaporator did coolant in a hollow area that is behind the water pump. This area can only be accessed when the water pump is removed from up against the engine block. It evaporates and crystallizes before it can even attempt to leak out.

Wishing all you guys the best and I miss contributing to this forum and reading all the posts.

 

[geurillawarfare]

Hi guys. I've been linked to this thread for years now, and I'm driving sequoia nowadays, but I can tell you with my 2003 V-8 and my 2008 V8, both of them had the coolant smell and when I brought it in to the dealership and the head Lexus tech replaced everything (the 90k deal was done 3x between the 2 vehicles) both of them had crystallized an evaporator did coolant in a hollow area that is behind the water pump. This area can only be accessed when the water pump is removed from up against the engine block. It evaporates and crystallizes before it can even attempt to leak out.

Wishing all you guys the best and I miss contributing to this forum and reading all the posts.

I have noticed that same leak on all the 4.7L timing belts I've done. I really don't think that is the source of the smell. It is almost certainly coming from the radiator area. I think it may just be overflow tank weepage. I'll put my FLIR on the overflow tank and see what temperature it's running at after a freeway run.

 

[Otgixxer]

My experience:
2003 4Runner SR5 V8, always had the coolant smell even after doing water pump/timing belt and making OCD sure that the water pump was sealed... Still had the coolant smell and pink crusties around the drain tube for the overflow tank. Smelled this from 60k to 120k and then sold it, probably still smells.

2005 4Runner SR5 V8 #1, same as above, belt and pump at 110k, now at 160k, not sure if it still smells - Let me check and post back.

2005 4Runner SR5 V8 #2(In STRATOSPHERIC MICA!): Dealer did timing belt/water pump about a month ago at 100k miles, I bought it the other day, and noticed it does have the coolant smell and pink crusties.

I am wondering if this has something to do with underhood temps and slow seepage from the overflow tank due to overflow tank design. The overflow tank sits on the radiator and runs "hot as balls". Maybe the source of the smell is simply evaporation/weepage from the overflow tank onto the radiator. It seems like it would have to be leaking somewhere else to smell what I'm smelling up front... Let me use my highly tuned sniffer and see if I can figure out anything else. If I'm not too lazy this weekend maybe I'll put some die in it.



Oh, and it makes me really sad to look at my 2003 in my profile picture, why did I sell that sexy thing :'(

I figured mine out it was an o-ring on the thermostat housing or something like that.