Smelling Antifreeze But No Leaks? Find Out The Reasons Here -

You might smell antifreeze without any leak if there is a

Blown head gasket
Malfunctioning radiator cap
Leaking water pump
Damaged heater core

You can fix all these problems by just replacing the components. To get a detailed idea on the process, keep reading this article till the end.

Reasons For The Smell Of Antifreeze Without Any Visible Leakage

If no external leakage is detected, internal leakage must be going on, as there can be no smell without the liquid coming out. So the following are the reasons you can check that would help you detect the actual reason pretty quickly.

Blown Head Gasket:

A blown head gasket can cause an antifreeze smell in your car, even if you don’t see any leaks. This happens because the head gasket, which seals the engine’s cylinders, can fail.

When it does, antifreeze may leak into the cylinders and turn into steam when the engine runs. As a result, you might notice a strong antifreeze smell inside your car, especially when you use the heater.

Solution: Replace Head Gasket

You should replace the head gasket if it is blown. But make sure to diagnose it properly. Check this video for help.

To replace a blown head gasket, follow these steps:

Disconnect the car battery and removing components like the airbox, air conditioner compressor, alternator, and radiator hoses to access the cylinder head.
Take out the old blown head gasket and make sure to thoroughly clean the cylinder head for a proper seal with the new gasket.
Place the new head gasket in position and tighten the head bolts in the correct sequence using a torque wrench, ensuring the specified tightness for your specific vehicle.
Put back the components you removed earlier, and don’t forget to refill the coolant and engine oil.

Bonus: Find out why the car overheats and then goes back to normal.

Malfunctioning Radiator Cap:

When the radiator cap is not working properly, it can lead to too much pressure in the cooling system. This extra pressure can make the coolant (the fluid in the radiator) leak out through the cap or other parts, causing vapors to come up from the engine area.

If you have a faulty radiator cap, you might notice white residue on the top of the radiator near the cap. This is a sign that the cap is not sealing correctly, and it’s allowing coolant vapors or small antifreeze leaks.

Solution: Replace the Radiator Cap

Following are the steps of replacing the radiator cap.

Find the radiator cap, usually situated on the top of the radiator. It might be secured with a clip or screw.
Turn the old cap counterclockwise to unscrew it. Be cautious not to drop it into the radiator, especially if it’s hot.
Check the pressure rating on the new cap and ensure it matches the old one. If the old cap is damaged, replace it with the new one.
Screw the new radiator cap onto the radiator, making sure it’s tightened securely.

Leaking Water Pump:

When a water pump is leaking, it can make antifreeze leak inside your car, creating a smell without any obvious signs of a leak. This antifreeze might mix with the engine oil, making it look like chocolate milk or have frothy white bubbles.

The water pump has a seal, like a gasket, which prevents fluid from leaking out of the engine. If this seal is leaking, it could be causing the antifreeze smell in your car. Check for wet spots on the ground around your car or puddles inside to identify if there’s a leak.

Solution: Replace the Water Pump

Before you replace the water pump, make sure that the engine is cool and then drain the coolant. Remove any instrument obstructing the water pump.

Disconnect the hoses and remove the bolts holding the old water pump from the engine.
Clean the surface where the gasket sits on the engine to get it ready for the new water pump.
Install the new water pump, making sure the gasket is in the right position.
Reconnect the hoses and secure the new water pump by bolting it back onto the engine.

Heater Core:

The heater core is used to take the warm air to spread inside the passenger cabin from the coolant or the antifreeze. If there is any crack or hole in the core, the antifreeze gets out.

This leakage makes the air inside your car mix with the antifreeze, letting you smell this odor while sitting inside your car.

Solution: Replace the Heater Core

Following are the steps of replacing the heater core.

Make sure the engine is cool before starting.
Disconnect the battery to avoid electrical issues during the replacement.
Drain the coolant by opening the radiator’s drain valve at the bottom.
Take out any parts blocking access to the heater core, like the plastic cover, air conditioning accumulator, temperature blend door actuator, and electrical connectors.
Label these parts in order, put them in plastic bags, and tape them to the corresponding components.
Undo the mounting fasteners securing the heater core.
Carefully pull the heater core away from the firewall, being cautious not to damage any parts.
Align the new heater core with the inlet/outlet tubes.
Reinstall or replace the mounting clamps, hoses, and heater drain tube.
Fill the cooling system with the correct coolant.
Ensure all air is bled from the system by opening any bleeder screws.
Start the engine and check for any leaks.

Bonus: Check the side effects of bypassing heater core.

Conclusion

So if you smell antifreeze with no leak then it can be an internal issue related to the head gasket or radiator cap. Make sure to diagnose the engine parts properly and then solve the problem. Finally, if you are not comfortable working on DIY task then always go for professionals.