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Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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flipstyle
User
Jun 14, 2022, 10:33 PM
Post #1 of 7
(1067 views)
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Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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This is a follow up on my last thread. Basically, my car overheated one night and shut down on me. Unbenounced to me at the time, my HVAC to engine block hose had completely given out on me, spilling out almost all the contents of the remaining coolant.
Car was smoking out of the exhaust and wouldn't hold over 0psi of pressure. I found out the hvac hose actually bubbled up and exploded due to hot oil leaking from the distributor (which Acura designers thought would be wise to place above a coolant hose) degrading the rubber over time.
Smoke was coming out of the tail pipe at this time.
Well, I addressed the leak by replacing both hvac hoses, and the car now is able to hold 15psi of pressure to the radiator for a full hour.
At this time I also ran some HD Seal (only a third of a bottle at the time) to see if I could resolve the white smoke exhaust issue. After driving for awhile, I can safely say that the smoke has been completely eliminated...for now. Car does not smoke at all (from engine bay or exhaust) either during idle, during operation, or after operation. And I've test driven it for 2 hours straight during multiple hot summer days.
In summary, the following have been done/replaced:
- all coolant hoses replaced/no leaks
- fixed/rebuilt distributor oil leak
- pressure tested radiator and holds 15psi with no leaks (for an hour)
- no visible coolant leaks that I can see either on top of engine compartment or underneath vehicle
- coolant levels look good
- no engine bay or exhaust white smoke at any time
- new OEM radiator cap
- did a liquid combustion test (on radiator cap)...results are negative
- put 1/3rd bottle of HD seal in coolant system
- engine never overheats or goes anywhere near the half line (as normal)
Faint smell of coolant coming from engine bay after driving awhile and parking. I THINK there's also a faint smell of coolant coming into the cabin while driving, but if it is, it is so faint that it's hard to say definitively.
Is there a possibility I still have some leftover coolant from my initial big leak that's burning off on areas I can't access?
Or is there the possibility that my headgasket is leaking while still returning a negative test result from a combustion test as well as not emitting exhaust smoke?
Any help or suggestions are welcome, thank you!!!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 15, 2022, 12:12 AM
Post #2 of 7
(1046 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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Hate to say that you don't fix blown head gaskets with sealers worth a crap.
Worse, it might have warped or cracked parts/alloys are real special (not) don't like it much.
Expect to tear this engine down, send out head(s) and lose a ton of bucks.
No fake repairs for this stuff but the costly lie that sealer claimed will give you back that $ - really,
Tom
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 15, 2022, 3:34 AM
Post #3 of 7
(1039 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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You definitely could have head gasket problems but I don't expect that is the smell issue. I expect you still have a small leak somewhere that is getting heated and that is causing the smell. It's probably going to take a real good pressure test and a mirror to find the leak. If it's dripping onto the exhaust you won't see it but you will smell it when driving.
PS; Don't forget you need to post year, make, model and engine size on every question.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 15, 2022, 3:35 AM)
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flipstyle
User
Jul 14, 2022, 6:32 PM
Post #4 of 7
(968 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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Thanks again. It turned out to be an oil leak from the newly installed head gaskets. I didn't torque them in the proper order, and apparently the rear one was not seated well. Oops!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 14, 2022, 6:37 PM
Post #5 of 7
(965 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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I think you are confusing a head gasket with a valve cover gasket. Head gaskets don't usually leak oil.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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flipstyle
User
Jul 15, 2022, 1:50 AM
Post #6 of 7
(954 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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Head gasket and valve cover gaskets are two completely different things, I know. Both my front and rear valve covers were leaking oil profusely for the longest (original gaskets with 160k miles), so I replaced both recently. It was because the oil was dripping down the back onto the block, causing a burning smell that was lingering everytime the car was running for a few minutes. It's now that I realize that the burning smell of oil was distinctly different than the burning smell of coolant (which has a lighter, sweeter scent). It seems to be good now, but I'm going to keep an eye/nose on it.
(This post was edited by flipstyle on Jul 15, 2022, 1:53 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 15, 2022, 3:53 AM
Post #7 of 7
(948 views)
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Re: Thought I fixed coolant leak...still trace smell of coolant from engine bay after driving
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Sounds good.
we'll close this question now as solved.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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