Antifreeze stinkin' up the place...

[Freak SHO]

Alright, I'm just looking for some clarification...

It seems like every time I bring my SHO up over 4K, I smell some nasty antifreeze. And I have to keep filling up the resevoir, (maybe a quart every 500 mi). I've heard from some, (not on this forum), that a small antifreeze leak is almost normal for SHOs which sounds like bs to me...I can't seem to pinpoint it, though, and if I inspect the engine I can't even see steam.

Any ideas? It does smell worse next to the radiator, but like I say, no steam...

Also, my t-stat works fine, heats up normally...opens and shuts when it should, etc...

Thanks in advance for any advice...if it wasn't for SHOforum, I'd be lost...

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Overflow bottle could have a small leak and need replacing....

 

[HopefulSHO]

My SHO recently had a problem where, after the engine was revved between 5-7k for a little bit, it would steam some @ the next stoplight (and probably before then I'm sure). It went away for a little while and then just a few days ago my waterpump finally started leaking like a mug. I can only assume *thus far* that problem was probably the waterpump going out on me.

If it smells around your radiator, try looking around the seams between the metal core & plastic side-tanks..that seems to be the most common area of leakage for our radiators.

 

[sdpatt]

Take a look up under the front fender at the bottom of the lower timing belt cover. That is where the leakage from the water pump emerges and drip onto the front bank catalytic covnerter, cerating the sickly, sweet smell of boiling ethylene glycol. If you don't see the telltale green drips behind the crankshaft damper, you may want to check along the lower radiator bulkhead for drips that would get blown back onto the front bank exhaust piping. The drip source for this situation is usually from the radiator's end tank seals. You will have to find the leak to know what to fix.

 

[DavidT]

get a pressure tester from Autozone (loan-a-tool)...it doesn't cost you a penny (once you return it)

 

[Emerald94]

There are also two hoses going into the firewall(to the heater box). The clamps will get loose over time and make them drip onto your y-pipe.

 

[rollin'SHO]

is your heat on when this happens?
could be your heater core. Mine's doing it, too

 

[projectSHO89]

Make sure that you have verified the hose to heater core connections are not leaking before condemning the core.

Flashlight and an inspection mirror.

Steve

 

[Freak SHO]

Thanks Guys...

I'll more thoroughly inspect things this week. It happened again yesterday, and yes, the heat was running. Once revved, the car stunk of A/freeze and then defrost on high with windows open couldn't defog the windsheild entirely...

I did notice some drips on the bottom of the radiator while underneath the car this past Saturday...

Ben