Smell of Coolant

[Showgun]

Have a very slight smell of coolant and can't locate any leaks or other evidence of any coolant loss.
Are there any suspect places that others have found to be a problem?
Pretty sure it's underhood.

Level is good and no puddles or splashes anywhere but can't really see too much with all the clutter underhood.
No wet carpets either.

Thanks,

 

[mjhpadi]

Just a thought, and a rather weak one, but did you check to overflow tank cap, to make sure it was tight, could be the odor is coming from there, if it isn't completely tight?

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

When I changed my T-stat, I accidentally spilled a bit of coolant on engine parts. Smell lasted a day or 2 only.

 

[Showgun]

Just a thought, and a rather weak one, but did you check to overflow tank cap, to make sure it was tight, could be the odor is coming from there, if it isn't completely tight?

I did, Mark, and also checked the level and seems ok and tight.
The overflow tank seemed to be sealed with any excess going into the system, tho I'm thinking that I must be getting some antifreeze smell from there.
Maybe it's normal. It doesn't smell strong and sometimes I can't smell it at all.

I'll just have to keep and eye on it and what the level. If it is a leak and gets worse, it'll show itself somewhere.

 

[Showgun]

When I changed my T-stat, I accidentally spilled a bit of coolant on engine parts. Smell lasted a day or 2 only.

No accidental spills recently. I expect it's residual smell from the overflow tank.
(I hope)..

We'll see.

 

[mjhpadi]

Hopefully, it will go away soon, and no problems will show up. Maybe a little got spilled while the car was being built?

 

[Showgun]

Hopefully, it will go away soon, and no problems will show up. Maybe a little got spilled while the car was being built?

Let's hope so. It's probably nothing and will be gone soon.

 

[EcoBrick Bob]

Has it been really HOT... where your coolant may have oveflowed???

 

[Showgun]

I was thinking this exact same thing.....

When I swapped out my T-Stat, I wasn't very careful and had spilled some coolant as well.

After a few days, I stll smelled the coolant smell. It became more evident with the onset of the high temps in the Chi-Town area.

In the course of my investigation(s) to locate any leaks, or what have you, what I learned was that the large plastic under belly cover is actually blanketed and in some parts foil lined.

I realized that during the Tstat swap out, the spilled coolant absorbed into the blanketed parts of the under belly cover.

I've since removed it, hosed it down, let it dry, hosed it down once again and actually ended up leaving it entirely off (at least for just the warmer Summer months). I'll re-install it when Winter rears it's ugly head once again.

But for now, the smell has since completely disappeared and I also confirmed no leaks whatsoever anywhere.

That makes a lot of sense, Mike. I'll check that out today.
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions too.

Cheers,

 

[Showgun]

FOUND IT!
A very slight (thankfully to this point) leak at the heater core inlet and outlet lines from the engine near the thermostat.
As you'll see in the pictures the coolant lines are about an inch but the clamps used at the factory were too big and when locked in were too large to clamp the rubber at all. (Someone at the factory needs a lesson from our Buddy Greg to do a proper install).
Thankfully I had a couple clamps (tho larger than I wanted) to do the job -- screw type that I like best. This is Canada Day and no body is open for parts or service.

Not the easiest of locations to work on especially with a hot engine, but at least I found the leak(s) and fixed it.

As Mike suggested, I took off the engine splash guard and found residue (tho miniscule) of a leak. I traced it back up to the top of the engine and voila!: 2 loose clamps. I thought that's weird.......and then to the ends of the heater hoses which of course were loose.

Could have been much different if I'd been on a trip and the heater hoses had let go. I dodged a bullet there for sure. I really can't believe that these hoses hadn't leaked more.

Anyone else with an '11 -- you might be wise to check those heater hoses for clamps that fit and are tight.

The other thing I discovered was the engine splash guard: Great idea of fastening it to the engine area Ford! In solid with only 4 twist clamps.
A whole lot easier than other brands that I've struggled with that have many many clips and such to get that thing off.

Kudos to Ford for that at least. (hose clamping is another story--)..

Thanks to all for suggestions and especially to Mike for his suggestion.

Cheers.

First is the engine splash guard that I removed.

A closeup of which reveals the evidence:

and then the upper side with the wayward clamps and hose ends

 

[mjhpadi]

Thanks for the great photos! Glad that you found the cause and got it corrected, I believe I would note that and let both Ford and the dealer know of the problem when you have the opportunity. I think I will check mine, just for the peace of mind. Thanks again!

 

[SHOrod]

...when locked in were too large to clamp the rubber at all.

That's great information, and I'm glad you found it before the hose decided to come off. I am curious though, you mention the clamps are too large when locked in to clamp the hose. Were the clamps locked when you first inspected, or even when unlocked, are they too large? The "locked" position as shown in the photos is the "loose" position. The clamps would be unlocked when seated in place for operational use. As photoed, they are set in the removal/installation position.

Is it possible the builder forgot to release the locks and the clamps are the correct size? Your car must have been built on a Friday or Monday.

-Rod

 

[Showgun]

That's great information, and I'm glad you found it before the hose decided to come off. I am curious though, you mention the clamps are too large when locked in to clamp the hose. Were the clamps locked when you first inspected, or even when unlocked, are they too large? The "locked" position as shown in the photos is the "loose" position. The clamps would be unlocked when seated in place for operational use. As photoed, they are set in the removal/installation position.

Is it possible the builder forgot to release the locks and the clamps are the correct size? Your car must have been built on a Friday or Monday.

-Rod

No the clamps were actually too large. I could take the locked clamp (as seen in the pictures) and slide it over the end of the hose. So too large to do the job. (granted only by an 1/8" or so but with that style measurements have to be exact).

I left the (locked) clamps as they were and didn't touch them other than to move them out of the way -- so didn't bother to unlock and take off.

 

[Showgun]

Thanks for the great photos! Glad that you found the cause and got it corrected, I believe I would note that and let both Ford and the dealer know of the problem when you have the opportunity. I think I will check mine, just for the peace of mind. Thanks again!

I'll certainly bring that to their attention when I'm in there next.
I'll also ask for the $100 or so I saved Ford for fixing it myself.

I know: don't hold my breath waiting for that payoff.

 

[SHOrod]

No the clamps were actually too large. I could take the locked clamp (as seen in the pictures) and slide it over the end of the hose. So too large to do the job. (granted only by an 1/8" or so but with that style measurements have to be exact).

I left the (locked) clamps as they were and didn't touch them other than to move them out of the way -- so didn't bother to unlock and take off.

Okay, so at the factory the didn't unlock the clamps like they should have. The position the clamps are in now is the "loose" position for installation/removal. The lock should be released to allow the clamps to tighten on the hose. It appears someone just failed to complete the job by unlocking the clamps when they were in place. The clamps are most likely the correct ones.

-Rod

 

[Showgun]

Okay, so at the factory the didn't unlock the clamps like they should have. The position the clamps are in now is the "loose" position for installation/removal. The lock should be released to allow the clamps to tighten on the hose. It appears someone just failed to complete the job by unlocking the clamps when they were in place. The clamps are most likely the correct ones.

-Rod

Rod, I could actually slide the locked clamp over the end of the hose so it wouldn't grab the rubber at all.
One of them was actually in place when I found it though as I said not grabbing the rubber hose at all -- the other was just down the hose a little -- I guess it had vibrated its way down a little.

So as you can see the clamps are either too big or the hose is too small.

 

[mjhpadi]

So as you can see the clamps are either too big or the hose is too small.

Well, we could certainly hi-jack this thread and really take it down the tubes if we pursue the "hose is too small" angle...A problem I have encountered a number of times!

 

[Showgun]

Well, we could certainly hi-jack this thread and really take it down the tubes if we pursue the "hose is too small" angle...A problem I have encountered a number of times!

Hi Jack all ya like bro.......so long as I don't have a 'leak' I don't care.

As far as your hose......well I can't comment except that I've noticed that you are very modest at times.

 

[SHOrod]

My point is the clamps should NOT BE locked, that is how they open the clamps. The LOCKS NEED TO BE RELEASED to clamp the hose. I'll try to get some photos of mine.

If you were to pry the ring over the ******, the clamps will tighten on the hose. The clamps are spring loaded, when unlocked, they contract.

-Rod

 

[SHOrod]

Here's a photo of how they should look (and fortunately do look on my car). Note that they are unlocked.


-Rod