What does burning coolant smell like?
 

Hi everybody,

Just like the thread title say, is there anyone that can describe what burning coolant smells like? The reason I'm asking is because when I first got the car 2 months ago it had a sort of cheap cologne smell. After a while the smell went away, so I thought "cool the cheap cologne smell wore off". But just recently I've noticed the smell again, and it comes and goes. Some times I smell it sometimes I dont.

I never really payed attention to the engine conditions, and whether it was hot or cold out. But It seems pretty random.

So anyways, am I really just smelling the same cheap cologne that the previous owner (or dealer) used. Or is the smell I described what burning coolant smelled like.

thanks

Burning coolant smells sweet. Also check your coolant level and see if it needs top up, could be a leak around the water pump housing or the filler neck.

It smells sweet, as was stated above, and you usually can see a light white smoke if your coolant is burning. Start your car, and pop your hood-- sometimes you will be able to see the smoke here, or out of your exhaust (if indeed you are burning coolant). Keep an eye on your coolant levels too as an added precaution.

cheap cologne? where are u eating lunch at? have someone start your car in the morning on a cold day, when it is in warm up mode stand behind the car. look for smoke and a sweet smell. if there is u will have problems soon.

i've heard maple syrup too...

You are leaking collant somewhere and it is evaporating because of the engine heat. It might be more than one place. If you pressure test the system, eventually a leak will show up. A Stant pressure tester would be nice, but for now I have a home built system that has helped me find my last three leaks. I've modified a pressure cap to accept an air hose from my air compressor. I clamp off the AST overpressure hose and set my compressor gauge to 15-20 PSI. The system leaks air a bit, but after a while, I will find a puddle. Then the fun begins. The last leak was under my air pump.

Good Luck!

An easy way to know what burning coolant smells like is to drop some coolant onto a hot part of the engine after a nice spirited drive.

You definitely can't get it confused with other burning liquids from the car. :)

Careful, Coolant is flamable you know ;)

you *should* be able to tell if you have a problem with coolant. it either burps out, of gets sucked into the motor. depending on where the bad seal is the symptoms would change. if on the intake stroke, you would *burn* it, on exhaust/compression stroke it would build prressure in the system and blow past your cap. ;)
do you loose coolant? if not, i would say the previous owner did not have enough money for *good* cologne because he owned a mazda. ;)
oh, and as stated, it is sweet smelling. it tastes sweet too! try a little, then you will know why not to leave an open container around animals... they LOVE that stuff! ;) :rofl:

Thanks for all the replies guys,

It doesn't look like I'm loosing coolant, because the level stays pretty much the same in the rad cap everytime I check it (I check fluids every 4 days).

I'm just guessing that the previous owner just couldn't afford good cologne :D or maybe the dealer used some to mask some of the used car smell.

I will still be watching my fluid levels for any changes. And I will try some of the tests you guys were talking about (no I wont drink the coolant :p: )

Yea, but it's not that dangerous. If so, my car would have been up in flames about 30 times from all the coolant leaks I've had to fix over the years. ;)

I've always thought buring coolant smells like maple syrup and fish... odd but accurate