Smell burning coolant

[Jaysan]

I was driving today and its like 44 degrees outside and I heard my fans kick on so I looked at my gauge and it was past 210 degrees. So I let the car cool off and opened my radiator cap and I didn't see any coolant. Went to vato zone bought a radiator cap and put Orange coolant (dex cool) . Hasn't got since but I keep smelling burning coolant ? Any thoughts yall ?

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

I poured the coolant into my radiator half coolant half water and burped my system

[fenderman]

Re: Smell burning coolant

You didn't happen to be at a Wendy's drive thru in San Marcos did you? LOL. That's exactly what happened to me a few years back when mine overheated.

Looked in my oil, couldn't detect any signs of coolant in the oil, changed out the thermostat, bled all the air out of the system and drove it. IIRC, I had to top the coolant off every couple months. I knew it wasn't normal so I kept checking the oil every week to make sure the coolant wasn't contaminating the system and of course when I would change the oil every 3,000 miles everything looked as clean as to be expected.

Fast forward to about a year ago when I did my oil change and noticed that the water was inside my valve cover (seen through the oil fill neck). I could tell that it was water and oil mixed together so I put the car in the garage and let it sit until I could determine the exact cause of the leak. I pressured it up (while cold) and noticed that it was slowly leaking down the back of the block. Freeze plugs looked good but when I got back up on top of the car I noticed coolant puddling up around the injectors.

I tore the motor down to get to the problem, and when I removed the upper intake the gasket was laying there in several pieces. I've torn gaskets before when removing parts and this gasket looked more broken than torn.

Long story short, I believe the cause was the intake gasket broke down and allowed coolant to leak into the valves very slowly. Since I had originally overheated the motor when the problem first presented itself and not wanting to take any more chances, I removed both heads in exchange for reconditioned ones. I have new intake halves on the way since mine had really bad corrosion around the coolant passage area and I did not feel like getting the old ones resurfaced.

DO NOT do what I did and drive the car like this for a long period of time. By doing so I allowed DexCool to react with air and almost completely block off the coolant passages in the head gasket. I will try to take some pictures later tonight. Pressure the car up while it is cold and get to the heart of the problem ASAP.

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

I was at a popeyes parking lot . Well the temp needle barely passed 210 degrees so I just parked it . and on my way home I turned the heater on all the way to relieve heat but it hasn't got hot since .

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

I just checked my radiator and there is no coolant . I think I have a leak :mad:

[flamingchicken]

Re: Smell burning coolant

probably the infamous intake gaskets...

do you have steam come out of the exhaust on startup? is it hard to start IE. long or slow?

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

probably the infamous intake gaskets...

do you have steam come out of the exhaust on startup? is it hard to start IE. long or slow?

I see it in the morning sometimes when it's cold outside. Every once and a while it will take a second to start up but not often

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

Even after hours of driving my radiator cap is cold to the touch and its brand new any thoughts?

[fenderman]

Re: Smell burning coolant

The best way to tell where the coolant is going is to get ahold of a pressure tester and pressure the system up while the car is cold to no more than the pressure indicated on your radiator cap. If the car is hot, a small leak will evaporate before it hits the ground. If the pressure on the gauge drops at all, look for leaks. If none are visible after a few minutes under pressure it might be an internal leak which either you or a shop will have to look into further. If the leak is external and the system is indeed losing coolant as quickly as you describe the problem should be easy to spot.

[Joey41]

Re: Smell burning coolant

Before doing the intake gaskets check the 90 degree pipe that goes into the front of the lower intake manifold. It is tough to see because your upper intake manifold overhangs this area. My 97 Camaro has blown this pipe out numerous times. It's a plastic pipe with o rings on each end. Before I knew better I replaced all hoses and my water pump not realizing this pipe was there. I believe it is near the coolant sensor, the other ends. Could take a pic tomorrow at work. Mine would leak here and I would sometimes smell it.

I would go out and look on my engine, but its pretty cold tonight. If you look above your water pump and you see water that 90 degree pipe may be your culprit. It's a cheap fix-HELP section at Autozone-$6, or dealer $15-20 last time I checked.

Also before doing your intake manifold check for the signs of coolant in your oil. Both times I have had to replace my intake gaskets I had yellow sludge looking stuff under my oil cap and in that tube where the cap goes. That is a pretty good sign its time for the gasket replacement. Search these boards, that is how I figured out mine.

If you do have to change out the intake gaskets be sure to do both the upper & lower intake gaskets. My first time I only did the upper and 3yrs later I was having to do it all again as the lower gasket failed. It's not too much more work to do.

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

I don't see this pipe .

Edit: my car is a 2000

[Rob Bell]

Re: Smell burning coolant

You may need a mirror to see if since it's hidden. Actually, the mirror may even help determine if that's the source of the leak. If steam is coming out that you cannot see, it will fog up the mirror of you hold it over the area where the pipe is.

However, if you are losing coolant this fast, it seems you would be dripping coolant somewhere. Are you not getting any puddles under the car?

[fenderman]

Re: Smell burning coolant

This is the reason this pipe has eluded people in the past. Not the easiest thing to see. I think I had more than one of these and of course they were pretty much shot when I pulled the motor apart. Not a big deal as I planned on replacing those as well.

Also, Joey- you had the exact same problem I posted here earlier. Intake gasket was shot- saw it through the oil fill neck with the cap removed but it did not show up on the dipstick. Seems to be a pretty common problem.

[Jaysan]

Re: Smell burning coolant

Nope man no puddles . Its weird because I lose a lot of coolant but I can't find any puddles

[Joey41]

Re: Smell burning coolant

When mine starts to leak from this pipe I have to add coolant every 2 weeks or so. This has been an on going problem for me. I actually just put a new one in. If you put 1 jug of antifreeze in and still dry you may need to add another.

Here are some pics, hopefully they will help you find it.

Also, you have to be careful putting it in and be sure that it does not go in crooked otherwise you will still have a leak.