Coolant smell no leaks or temp increases

[Atlanta]

Curious before I take in my 2021 SX tell you ride. Getting a smell of coolant occasionally. No leaks. Temperature looks fine. Didn't know if anybody had had similar issues and had it fixed

 

[tpgh]

Any chance it’s your washer fluid? Sometimes the high glycol, very low freezing point, solutions will sometimes smell like antifreeze

 

[Atlanta]

Any chance it’s your washer fluid? Sometimes the high glycol, very low freezing point, solutions will sometimes smell like antifreeze

Understood and will check. Thought I meant that lightly clean inside engine bay. Maybe when oil was changed they topped it off and got it on engine. TY

 

[OldPilot]

IMO neither washer fluid nor engine oil will smell like coolant. My guess is that there is a little coolant seeping past a hose clamp somewhere, then evaporating or dripping to the ground before it creates a visible mess. Option 1 is to ignore it until/if it gets worse enough to see. Option 2 would be to gently tighten all the hose clamps you can find, and see if that heals the disease. Don't go nuts; you can damage a clamp by overtightening and you will not enjoy that.

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[Atlanta]

IMO neither washer fluid nor engine oil will smell like coolant. My guess is that there is a little coolant seeping past a hose clamp somewhere, then evaporating or dripping to the ground before it creates a visible mess. Option 1 is to ignore it until/if it gets worse enough to see. Option 2 would be to gently tighten all the hose clamps you can find, and see if that heals the disease. Don't go nuts; you can damage a clamp by overtightening and you will not enjoy that.

Sounds reasonable

 

[kgardnez]

I'm noting a very light coolant smell, did you ever solve this?

 

[amp1]

I'm in a similar situation, it seems to be slightly stronger on the drivers side but nothing is wet, no traces of where coolant may have leaked, everything is tight. I get a light whiff of coolant after a drive.

 

[MrMCar]

I'd agree with OldPilot; Coolant burning smell is unique. Albeit perhaps the layperson couldn't distinguish?

Keep in mind that very LITTLE can produce quite the smell and/or smoke. All that smoke one sees during a Thunderbirds (Has to be, cause I'm ex UAF) air show is about a gallon or less of oil burned to make all that smoke.
Same goes for hot oil or coolant dropping (quite literally) one drop at a time onto the hot exhaust or nearby hot surfaces.

Another very common spot can also be the heater core. That's the little mini radiator tucked up inside a box deep inside your dashboard. Hot coolant if seeping very slightly and then airflow (always happens) out of the ducts can make you smell coolant also. The leak (if present) would have to get larger and/or happen longer to notice any significant level drop.

It's good that you're NOT noticing a level change. Now it's time to use your Sherlock Holmes eyes and have a good look around with a good flashlight, out of direct sunlight. Coolant leaks, when drying leave a sort of unique whitish drying tell-tale trail. Look for such, in/around the engine and/or around the A/C system drains.

Let us know what you find.
Good sleuthing!

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[KMiles]

I had a tough one to find in my previous car. It turned out to be a small service plug (nylon or plastic threaded plug) in the upper left corner of the radiator on the driver's side. It had loosened up enough to cause a tiny leak. I only found it with a bright flashlight. It seems to me that the best time to try and find a tiny leak is right when you turn the car off after driving it for awhile.

 

[amp1]

I have a blacklight flash light I'll try to use to night to see if anything shows. The previous owners hit a bird which bent the ac condenser, but no visible damage to the radiator. I noticed there is also a nipple coming off of the coolant tank w/ no hose attached. Both areas are dry w/ no residue. I'll report back once I find it.

 

[kgardnez]

I have a blacklight flash light I'll try to use to night to see if anything shows. The previous owners hit a bird which bent the ac condenser, but no visible damage to the radiator. I noticed there is also a nipple coming off of the coolant tank w/ no hose attached. Both areas are dry w/ no residue. I'll report back once I find it.

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