Smelling coolant through the air vents

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Joseph A. Zupko - 28 Jul 2004 04:56 GMT

I have 2001 3.1 Century with 23k. Sometimes when I start the car I can
smell the coolant through the vents. The hotter the car gets sometimes
the smell gets stronger. Is this normal? Is it because the heater core is
getting hotter and causes it to smell? Or could this be a sign that the head
gasket is leaking slowly. If so how can I check it? I also had this
problem with my former 93 Lumina and it had 125k and no problem came up. I
have 2 weeks left on the factory warranty.
Thank you

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Juhan Leemet - 28 Jul 2004 08:21 GMT

> I have 2001 3.1 Century with 23k. Sometimes when I start the car I can
> smell the coolant through the vents. The hotter the car gets sometimes
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> have 2 weeks left on the factory warranty.
> Thank you

Might be overheating slightly and excess pressure squirting some coolant
back into the reservoir? Splashing around might make some of it aerosol.
When the engine cools down, it should automatically suck it back into the
radiator, I believe. Either that or you do have a leak somewhere.

Is the temperature getting to the rated temp of the pressurized cooling
system? I think that should be some 10 or 20 degrees above 212F (100C)?

Signature

Juhan Leemet
Logicognosis, Inc.

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MisterSkippy - 28 Jul 2004 16:06 GMT

>I have 2001 3.1 Century with 23k. Sometimes when I start the car I can
>smell the coolant through the vents. The hotter the car gets sometimes
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>have 2 weeks left on the factory warranty.
>Thank you

First thing that comes to mind is a leak in the heater core or a
loose connection in that area.
FWIW
YMMV
DFB
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