the smell of antifreeze....

[johnner1999]

OK strange one here....

every now and again, our Insight gives off a decent smell of what appears to be antifreeze. You know that semi sweat aroma. This occurs when parking indoors and after climbing a decent size hill (can kill a full battery). I checked under the hood, can see nor actually smell it any stronger (in fact under the hood you can hardly even smell it) I checked the heater vents in the car, same as under the hood. I see no fluids dripping...

Now I don't even know if the coolant used in the insight even smells like the old green stuff lol...

Any suggestions? I will mention it when I bring her in for an oil change *at 30% now) But figured I'd ask the hive


thanks in advance

[Cobb]

Welcome aboard!!!

Mines too had that so did my scion xb2. It went away once I passed 10 thousand miles. I am guessing it's the blue 50/50 antifreeze doing its thing.


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[Jayemtee]

Probably antifreeze. More than likely through the heater system which circulates antifreeze to the cabin. It probably only does it when the fluid is very hot at this point. A leak never gets better on it's own.

With luck, there is a clamp loose or a hose that needs to be secured better. More likely a crack in a metal or plastic part that carries the fluid. It's hard to find early because the fan circulates the fumes. Never stop looking. You don't want to find it when it gets bad enough to cause your front carpet to be wet.

Feel around for wetness behind the dash, especially the center and passenger side. Maybe take the glove box out and look and feel and smell through there.

[gilbertguy]

Is your anti-freeze level dropping over time?

[johnner1999]

Originally Posted by gilbertguy

Is your anti-freeze level dropping over time?

I have yet to actually check... yeah my bad :-0

thanks - I will look today for sure!

[gilbug01]

Same kind of thing with mine. My antifreeze is disappearing...I have to replenish every 3-4 days. If i do not I get a warning light...I do not have any wet spots in the car or the garage floor.

[Cobb]

Sounds like a compression test is in order if not a radiator pressure test. If the smell is outside the car that rules out the heater core. My radiator from my accident was leaking at the bottom center from the fan assembly.

I believe the cooling system holds 3qts and the outside overflow tank makes it 4.

I believe any auto store has the pressure tested. You want to attach this where the radiator cap goes, pump it up to a few psi or so and start looking. Id check the bottom of the radiator and the bottom of the water pump for wetness.


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[Jayemtee]

And look at your oil.