Smells like antifreeze

[Croneybones]

I have a 1993 Bronco XLT with the 302.

Whenever I drive for more than a couple minutes, then get out, I smell antifreeze. This happens on street driving as well as rough driving. I searched around and I see no signs of leak other than a little tiny puddle that seems to be splashing from the reserve cap. (the white container, not radiator). It sometimes smells like it's burning, but again, I checked my headers and engine and there's no leak.

It does not overheat, and the temp gauge works fine and reads normal.

Help?

 

[BroncoJoe19]

It doesn't take much antifreeze leaking/seeping to give off an anitfreeze smell.

If it is too hard to locate now... don't worry, it'll get worse.

Then it will be easier to find. /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

Hehehe... how's that for super sluething?

 

[Miss Kitten]

hahahah omg joe that is just terrible.......... hillarious but terrible none the less

have you tried getting any of that antifreeze stop leak stuff from auto parts stores. it's a quick simple fix that might plug up where that little bit of coolant is leaking from

 

[Croneybones]

I was going to go with Joe's suggestion, but Miss Kitten, that is a really great idea. I've used the stuff before on a different vehicle and it sealed up a split radiator, so it should find my leak. I think the worst case here would be a blown head gasket or god forgive a cracked block somewhere.

 

[BroncoJoe19]

My radiator has plastic side tanks. My plastic tank was pulling away from the metal core, just enough to let some antifreeze seep through. It gave a slight scent of antifreeze, yet it was barely visible. My friend sugested that I try to tighten the little tabs that hold the core to the tank, see picture enclosed.

http://broncozone.com/forums/index.php?s=&...ost&p=66172

 

[Seabronc]

Sorry to come out in direct opposition to a previous suggestion, but if you value your cooling system, DO NOT [-X use that Stop Leak stuff. It not only works on the leak but it clogs up your whole system. I'll bet that if you pull the fan motor, you will find evidence of leaking from the heater core. If that is the problem, the fix is to replace it. Another suspect is the connections to the heater core.

Why am I jumping on the heater core? Because you don't see any leak, but when you run for a few minutes you smell it. A leak inside the engine compartment usually goes unnoticed until you see the green stuff on the ground.

Good luck,

>-

 

[crazyhorse85]

Yeah,i'm with seabronc stopleak is good as long as you curculate it good...but that hard to do and ends up in the bottom of your radiator and gums up the whole thing....had afriend who did that and had to have his radiator roded out to clean it up and stop overheating....like seabronc was talking check the heatercore first or could even just be a clamp seeping a little after the engine warms up...... B)