Smells like Antifreeze?

[Flip]

Yesterday, I got a wiff of antifreeze a few times. It was intermittent while running the heat. (3.6l engine. 8400 miles) I checked the oil, leaks, coolant level, everything normal.

I've read a few posts regarding this but never really got the prognosis.

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[Phrank]

Are you getting this smell from inside the cabin? If so, windows open or closed?

 

[Flip]

Yes, inside the cabin. I'm not 100% sure but the passenger side window may have been slightly opened.

 

[Phrank]

It sounds like the beginning of a heater core failure. For your sake, I hope I am wrong - that's a huge job on the JL.

Unrelated - My JL (and my JK before that) smells like antifreeze pretty much every time I get out. 4 years and 40k+ miles and I've needed to add coolant once - and it took maybe a half gallon max. No clue...

 

[Whiskey J]

This thread caught my attention as I recently had a similar situation in my Ram. Although I could clearly see fluid dripping from odd places under the truck (unlike AC condensation) and antifreeze splashed around the engine when I open the hood. Turned out to be a bad water pump. $600. to replace so not terrible. Maybe the same? Oh, and I did not see any change in the gauges to indicate oveerheating so maybe I was not driving it long enough with the problem .

 

[Phrank]

This thread caught my attention as I recently had a similar situation in my Ram. Although I could clearly see fluid dripping from odd places under the truck (unlike AC condensation) and antifreeze splashed around the engine when I open the hood. Turned out to be a bad water pump. $600. to replace so not terrible. Maybe the same? Oh, and I did not see any change in the gauges to indicate oveerheating so maybe I was not driving it long enough with the problem .

As I understand it, the temp gauges in our JLs (the physical gauge, not the digital temp readout) are woefully inaccurate and will often read "normal" when the vehicle is in fact overheating. I suspect the ones Ram uses would/could be similar.

 

[Whiskey J]

As I understand it, the temp gauges in our JLs (the physical gauge, not the digital temp readout) are woefully inaccurate and will often read "normal" when the vehicle is in fact overheating. I suspect the ones Ram uses would/could be similar.

Perhaps. it's a 2015 Ram. I did drive it a bit, maybe two 10mi stretches before getting it fixed and was surprised the temp gauge didn't move.

 

[Heimkehr]

The needle on my JLU's de facto analog temperature gauge hasn't yet deviated from its normal position on the gauge after the engine reaches its normal operating temperature.

I thought it would move at least a bit, just enough to notice, in recognizance of the increased coolant temperature trends (which were very plain on the digital temperature display) while towing during the heat of summer. Nope. I now consider the digital data to be the only useful benchmark.

 

[Pig-Pen]

At least it doesnt smell like Teen Spirit, otherwise id recommend talking to an attorney asap

 

[Flip]

I don't believe a dealership will do anything even if they actually smell antifreeze. Well, time will tell.

 

[Pig-Pen]

I don't believe a dealership will do anything even if they actually smell antifreeze. Well, time will tell.

theyll just say “all jeeps smell like that. Its a jeep thing”

 

[Flip]

theyll just say “all jeeps smell like that. Its a jeep thing”

Really? They would be that polite?

From the disasters I've read out here. I wouldn't be surprised if they told me to go piss up a rope, middle finger in the air and called me a chicken f***er as I walked out the door while making obnoxious sounds, Bukaaack!!!!!

 

[PunksJL]

There is a recall on certain 2.0T equipped Wranglers due to the water pump bolts not being properly torqued. I had a coolant odor and this was the cause. Recently my coolant overflow tank also developed a slow leak. The coolant dripped down and saturated the foil covered cloth insulation on the coolant lines just below the tank. Dealer replaced my tank and did a pressure test under warranty, but I still get an occasional whiff of coolant which I'm pretty sure is from the insulation that got saturated.

 

[roaniecowpony]

If you're in the least bit concerned about a head gasket, do a chemical test of the antifreeze.​

Amazon.com: Block Tester BT-500 Head Gasket Combustion Leak Test Kit - Made in USA : Industrial & Scientific​

 

[mjf]

Just got a quote for $2000.00 to replace the heater core on my 2012 KK. Should have let the dealer have it when I bought my JL a few months back. Oh well!!

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