im smelling coolant? any ideas wats wrong?

[njc713]

Wen I drive the car is running at the proper temperature but using coolant. I just did an oil change the other day and didn't see coolant in the oil. It wasn't milky. I really need some help I can't figure out the problem.

[JRB1987]

Best bet would to pressure testing your cooling system. By doing so it should be apparent what the problem is and what the proper fix would be...

[T0rque]

any leaks? when/where do you smell coolant? is your floor board wet?

year? Mileage?

[tarmacsti]

I would also check the radiator, pipes, caps etc. If the temps are fine it could just be a small leak letting out the right amount of coolant for you to smell.

what model year and car do you have?

[njc713]

I haven't found any leaks yet I parked it in my garage and there was nothing on the ground Wen I left. Could this be cuz I filled the coolant pass the full line. It's an 04 Sti with 64k on it. I checked the coolant today and it was right at the full line. Idk its relle wired I didn't even smell coolant today Wen I drove the car.

[SD_GR]

Could this be cuz I filled the coolant pass the full line.

If the bottle was empty to begin with you may have a leak. If the bottle was simply low after lots and lots of time and miles, and you overfilled, then yes, that'd explain the smell. Keep a close eye on it. If the bottle goes low, park it until you fix the problem.

[njc713]

Wen I bought the car about a week a ago I didn't check the coolant level. Wen I got home I checked both the oil and coolant and I noticed it was low. So I started filling it up. I wasn't sure where the fill line was because its a little hard to see so I filled it about 5 inches higher than the fill line. The car was stiill running fine. It wasnt till yesterday. That I smelled coolant. I then parked the car in the garage to see if it was leakin. And. I didn't find anything. Today I checked the coolant and the level was good and. didnt smell it at all? I'll just keep checking the coolant like u said and post wats going on. Thanks for the help and sorry if I'm confusing i am new to clubwrx.

[WRCross]

A needle size hole leak will hold water until there is pressure. Sometimes the leak will be atomized by warm under-hood air and leave no other trace, except the odor of evaporating coolant.

I once had a GLTurbo that sprung a pin hole leak in the turbo coolant hose. The emerging water was immediately evaporated by the hot turbo housing or the exhaust pipe.

Pressure test the system for a long period of time!

Gary

[njc713]

Thanks for the help I think I might have found the problem. I was lookin over my radiator and I seen a few small drips on the plastic skid plate. I think it is a pinhole leak but idk where its coming from. I think its leaking near the lower part of the radiator kinda near the timing belt somewhere down there any ideas what hose it I could be. I'm not familiar with these motors yet