Smell coolant

[Omnilux]

So I just bought this explorer about a week ago. After taking it out for a drive when I shut it down I can smell coolant, but I can't figure out where it's coming from. There are no leaks anywhere.

 

[Lube]

Check inside the truck, could be a heater core leak.

 

[yavapaires]

So I just bought this explorer about a week ago. After taking it out for a drive when I shut it down I can smell coolant, but I can't figure out where it's coming from. There are no leaks anywhere.

I had the exact same problem when I bought my 96. Only it was also gettong water in one cylinder, causing it to idle rough until the plug burned off the coolant. It doesn't take but a little bit of coolant to make a big smell. Try looking at the thermostat housing, under the heads, and from the intake manifold. If money is an issue, like with me, you can put in a bottle of stop leak. I recommend Bars Leak or K&W Block sealer. I have had mine for six months, and so far so good. This is NOT a permanent fix. Also check the radiator and hoses. Like I said it don't take much of a leak to smell bad. The heater core could be leaking, but if it is, you would smell it when driving.

 

[wicsmith1997]

I had a leak in my radiator but it was evaporating and not leaving much under the vehicle. I smelled it every time i exited the vehicle. Replaced Radiator with a $40 used one from a local parts store I found on Ebay. And issue went away.

 

[Omnilux]

Well I don't smell it while inside the vehicle, only when I walk around the front end after parking in my driveway. I did a search last night before I created this thread and got some ideas of where to look for a leak with other people's situations, but I checked all those spots and still nothing.

Maybe it is the rad and it's just evaporating before leaving a mess?

 

[drdoom]

I could be wrong, but antifreeze doesn't evaporate very readily.

 

[wicsmith1997]

Make sure its not the radiator cap.