Opinions please.

I'm not loosing coolant, but at the drop of a hat I get a coolant smell, localized to the area of the overflow tank in the RF fender.

So it seems like maybe coolant is being pushed out there more often then it should, but if so it's being recovered, rather than being lost. Maybe a weak pressure cap could let that happen?

I can't seem to come up with another idea.

Other possibilities?

 

That's one that a pressure test is not going to identify.

If all else fails I have a used but believed good cap that you could try.

 

Dennis, Did you pull the liner and inspect the overflow and associated connections? Since it's a sealed system I wouldn't expect any smell even with excessive fluid going into the recovery tank.

 

Be sure to check the cap on your engine bay coolant expansion tank as well. If you are seeing a small ring of coolant on top of the tank's exterior surface just below the cap when you unscrew and remove it, that cap may not be sealing properly....

 

Thanks, Tom.

Only if I pay the shipping, OK? Paypal? I'll PM you.

 

Hey there, Jack

Believe it or not that tank down in the fender is open to the air. But point taken, I may need to open things up there. Hoping for an easier way out, seeing as how it's winter and all.

 

Jon,

I'll double check it. But so far my poking around finds everything completely dry, and no coolant loss, last measured over a period of a month or so.

Pretty sure the smell is coming from the area of the recovery tank. If you open the passenger door and stick your nose in by the hinges ... there it is!

Anybody know where that tank vents to the air? Is it right there near the tank, or do they run a hose somewhere?

 

My leak in that area turned out to be a heater/octopus hose connection near the CAT. A small drop at a time vaporizing on the exhaust. A pressure test when cold located the drip. Too much pressure(15 psi) during the test turned the drip into a gusher.
Good luck with locating your spot.

 

I second Bob's comment as well. Had the same problem with an O ring on the forward connection of the Octopus hose. Turned out to be a cheap but semi-pain fix.

I pulled the connection off using some cheap AC quick disconnects and used a mini-hook from harbor freight to fish out the o-ring inside the Octopus connection.

Used some dish liquid to lube the o-ring up slightly and slid it back on, and voila, no more leak. It was a small drip every 4-8 seconds.

Check there, look around, and wait and watch. Took me about 10 mins to see it drip finally if I remember correctly.

 

Ditto, my leak also was a very small drip onto the catalytic converter, thus, never any liquid for me to actually see, but I could smell it. I replaced the octopus hose which included the hose coming out of the bottom of the expansion tank.

 

Gents,


OK, you got my attention re: the octopus hose. Thanks.

I'm going to try replacing the cap first off. Primarily because it's easy. Thanks to TestPoint.

Does this influence anyone's thinking? ... Often I'll drive for a while without the smell, but if I pull into a parking lot or get stuck in traffic ... there it is. Relevant?

 

These cars are famous for slow leaks that evaporate without leaving much of a trace. I had a pin hole in the reservoir that only created a fog and never a drip. Another leaking octopus hose connector dripping down the side of the cat. Never a drop anywhere.

I think you mentioned that your reservoir does not require refills. That being the case it cannot be much of a leak. Have you tried one of the auto parts stores pressure testers? I'll get the cap in the mail tomorrow. Sure it is going to fit an '03?

 

If my weak-cap idea is in fact the one, I think there would be nothing found in a conventional pressure test ... the cap would be removed for the test, right?


Pretty sure an '02 cap will fit. When I owned both an '01 and an '03 ... I dimly remember swapping them.

 

Cap is not involved in a pressure test unless you connect test equipment elsewhere. I guess you could drill out the second small connection on the reservoir and pump up the system from there. Standard pressure test will confirm a leak anywhere else.

Let's change the cap first.

 

A big thank you here to Test Point for sending along a spare coolant tank cap. It got rid of the strong coolant smell showing up on every drive, confirming the suspicion that my old cap was too easily allowing coolant to sneak past it, and head over to the recovery tank.

Helpful guy, Test Point.

By inspection, it looks like the seal on the old cap had shrunk and was being easily bypassed. Visually, the seal on the cap that Test Point sent was clearly thicker.

I think there is something else going on because on occasion there is still a slight coolant smell. But the daily, strong smell is gone. And that's a good thing.

 

Glad to hear it. Keep us posted as you attempt to eliminate the coolant smell....

 

SRPOPE80


You mentioned in your earlier post that you used a cheap quick disconnect tool to release the Big Norma connector on the octopus hose.


Would you be so kind and show us what you used. Picture?


I have broken every one that I have tried to open.

 

Thanks, Jon. Seeing as how it was -2 degrees F. around here this morning ... and the problem is something like 90% better thanks to Test Point ... it's unlikely I'll get motivated enough to go after it again anytime soon.

Unless it gets worse of course.