I just finished changing my water pump and crossover pipe after the pipe failed. Pipe broke and spilled all the coolant about 300 feet from where I was to park so I just shut the engine off. No overheating warning lamps lit just coolant and steam all over the place.

I took off the intake manifold and cleaned the valves and throttle body. Put everything back together and car runs smooth as silk and has loads of power. No coolant in oil nor oil in coolant, no steam from exhaust, no overheating. Only problem I have is that after long runs I can smell coolant from the left of engine bay. I have been controlling my expansion tank but I cant seem to see it lose liquid.

I'm pleased with the car but have that uneasy feeling. Any ideas?

 

Pressure testing time.

 

The dealer changed the waterpump in my Rover ( before I bought it ) and the antifreeze smell is there 5 yrs. later. My wife's MINI was recalled for a turbo cooler pump and when I got home the dealer had antifreeze all over the place. took 3 yrs. of rinsing before it is gone. I have not done Rover as I have to take too much apart to get to it. (Jag XF engine). Takes a while to dissipate, just flush and hope. Smells horrible when parked after drive.

 

I had a similar issue smelling coolant. The bottom of my coolant resevoir had a hairline crack and was leaking ever so slowly. Replaced it however contined to smell coolant. Dropped the level slightly below max and everything is good now.

 

Yup, mine was don't by the dealer last year and I still smell coolant from under the hood. I think when the pump goes it sprays coolant all over the place and into the foam hood liner so it stays smelling for a long long time. I did an engine shampoo and rinsed out the engine bay very carefully and sprayed the foam liner and the smell is all but gone now.

 

I'm thinking I will power hose the engine with the under trays off. It seems the orange type coolant dries up like oil and once heated starts to smell. Thanks for the info on your car.

 

You could always clean your engine, I pressure wash mine once a month.