Ok, now a new problem is coming along??? After you have driven my 97 Xk8 when you get out, car is off you can hear the fans running and you can smell rad fluid.
I see no leaks, no steam, at cold the flud resivor is fine. After the car has been driven you see no fluids under the car, I cleaned off the motor the other day, sprayed down, and I see nothing. Aint making sense. I know in the past I have had cars that when at running temp when you parked it you could smell fluid, but it never leaked, was never low.
It is not the heater core, no typical signs there of a leak. I have looked all over the motor and find nothing. Running temp at gauge is at normal.
I am telling ya this car is becoming one little issue after another. Ha ha ha. This is right on the heals of the TRIPLE CROWN thread saga I had. For now I watch it but so far no fluid loss anywhere, and resivor is fine, not empty, not low.
Only thing I can think is when they kept taking the TB off and on it lsot some fluid there and they filled it too much and it is casting off overflow when it get hot?

 

The classic answer to coolant leaks is to rent a pressure tester from one of the auto parts stores. That will allow you to quickly find a wet spot while the engine is cold.

 

ahh. You can't just tell me not to worry about it. Ha ha ha.
I'd figured if it was leaking that UNDER PRESSURE it would rear its ugly head.
THIS CAR is testing me, arrrg.

 

I've learned after a few coolant leaks, that it has a very distinct, sweet smell, even on evaporation. The power steering fluid has more of a raunchy odor when it burns...get underneath and see if you can see some signs of it. It doesn't dry like coolant, and will be pretty evident. Red color too. Check the resevoir for levels, obviously before considering that as an option.

 

it is a rad fluid smell. No mistaking that.

 

Check both ends of the coolant recovery hose. My 3.0L s-types sprung a leak at the nipple of each end (One on $200+ rad hose asy, other on $100 coolant exp tank) but in each case I smelled fluid for a week or two before I ever found evidence of the leak.

 

If your nose is that sensitive to smell the coolant, you may be able to discover which side of the engine it is coming from. If the leak is very tiny, after several weeks, you may start to see the fluid level in the resevoir getting lower. It may take months before the coolant level warning message appears on the instrument panel.

There are even some heater hoses that run across the top of the engine block that are not visible without removing the decorative engine cover!

My mechanic friend said to drive the car often, but keep some of the proper coolant ready in the trunk

 

I had a slow radiator leak when I first got my 03. Ended up being the reservior. I have read that these tend to leak at the weld seams.

 

You don't really smell it until the fans are blowing, I guess pushing the oder better to a point that I smell it. when the fans are off you don't smell it, driving I don't. I will have to look into it more.
What are folks thoughts on putting in some type of sealant stuff in the system?

 

I would not put stop leak in a good car. It's for old clonkers that you don't mind if the radiator is a bit plugged by stop leak.

 

Done the pressure test yet?

 

no, ha ha ha. I have been out of town until last night.

 

what should the pressure at the tank cap be?

 

well found cap pressure was 15 psi. Did pressure check on system, it was holding 15 psi pretty good did not bleed off but a fraction of a fraction. I looked all around up front and FOUND a tiny seeping from one of the bolts on the pump. Looking at pump it is the one on the right side on bottom right. It is just a TINY drip, trickle but stops when car is hot it appears, as if the leak seals up with heat. But when cold under pressure I saw a good drip and when it first started running saw a breif stream come from area of bolt. Right now this is a small leak, real small but yet ANOTHER problem that needs dealt with. This pump was replaced when I had the chains done about 10k ago/almost 2 years ago. Ganna be interesting to see what the shop has to say. I wonder it that bolt is loose. May get to it and see if it is.

 

well no leak in the last day. I hate these types of issues.

 

Why is this thing leaking so little or not at all at times?

 

Its a Jaguar.

If it has leaked, it will leak. Gotta fix it.

Pump it up to 20 psi and see what happens.

 

my 99 xk8 52'000 miles]has had that smell since iv'e owned it[two years].i bought new rad hoses but did not install before putting it up fore winter.i cannot find any leaks so i just chose to kind of keep an eye on it, but also ignore it.i have no fluid leaks so thats just the way it is sometimes,just another little quirk..steve

 

Your engine has at least 3 places that leak and leave little trace. On both sides of the engine are 'Norma' connectors to the cabin climate control system. Both have a history of dripping on the cat converters without ever reaching the floor. The coolant overflow reservoir is also a common leak problem and also is above the left cat. The hot cat quickly evaporates the fluid and aggravates the smell of coolant but it should leave a colored stain.

A pressure test will quickly tell you where the problem is.

 

A small leak at a bolt could shut off when the engine heats up due to the difference in expansion. My GMC pickup had a leak at the intake manifold joint if I ran it for a half minute or so, but no problem when it warmed up completely. I used stop leak and no problem after 3 years.

It could also be a hairline crack in the pump housing. I would pull the pump and and be sure.