Coolant smell?

[Husky]

I have a G70 3.3T, and just joined your forum. I also noticed this coolant smell almost immediately after buying the car, when I would get out after parking it. Mine was also more noticeable after harder driving. It's definitely not the washer fluid, which I also smell (quite different) in the car when using it. I looked for leaks and checked the coolant level, all seemed ok. The smell was present pretty much after every time I drove it, but I will say it has tapered off. I've owned it for seven months now and have about 8200 miles, and the smell is pretty much gone. (Probably just no coolant left )
It certainly is odd, I wonder why all these cars seem to have this. I've never had this on any other car unless there was an actual leak. I mentioned it to the service guy the first time I took it back to the dealer. They didn't find anything, and didn't mention anything, like "they all do this". Curious.

 

[1macuzer]

A lot of cars get a coating applied to them before sitting on the ocean for a couple months. I wonder if the smell is that coating continuing to burn off.

 

[SteveCo]

The only smell I noticed from my car (beside the pungent washer fluid) was the interior itself - the smell of brand new materials (plastic, foam, leather) offgassing, which was strong enough that it could give me a headache if I didn't have the windows down or A/C set for fresh intake. That faded over a period of several weeks, but was really strong when I first took possession of the vehicle - pretty much fresh off the transporter from S.K.

Never had any smell from the engine coolant, regardless of how hard the car is driven. It's always parked in an enclosed garage, so if there was any coolant odor it would have been quite evident. But that washer fluid certainly made itself known every time it was used ... even in the great outdoors.

 

[Husky]

The only smell I noticed from my car (beside the pungent washer fluid) was the interior itself - the smell of brand new materials (plastic, foam, leather) offgassing, which was strong enough that it could give me a headache if I didn't have the windows down or A/C set for fresh intake. That faded over a period of several weeks, but was really strong when I first took possession of the vehicle - pretty much fresh off the transporter from S.K.

Never had any smell from the engine coolant, regardless of how hard the car is driven. It's always parked in an enclosed garage, so if there was any coolant odor it would have been quite evident. But that washer fluid certainly made itself known every time it was used ... even in the great outdoors.

Interesting. I wonder why some have it. I thought maybe my coolant level was a bit too high, but it wasn't.

 

[TheAlien666]

Does anyone know what type/brand of engine coolant is used for the Stinger ? Mine is of a dark colour, instead of the usual green/yellowish Prestone.

 

[washguy]

My coolant smell has gone away ....the level is good and its still 100 pus where im at.... Wash

 

[Curtis]

Picked up my 2019 New last Friday. I smell the coolant too (no leaks)... it comes and goes now... i've owned the car for less than a week, so not much time to determine how frequent it is.

 

[SteveCo]

Does anyone know what type/brand of engine coolant is used for the Stinger ? Mine is of a dark colour, instead of the usual green/yellowish Prestone.

User the recommendation in the owners manual. Ethylene glycol base coolant for aluminum radiators, mixed with distilled water.

 

[stinger brad]

Its not the fuel pump. Its the High Pressure Oil Pump you hear on start up. The Coolant smell Is from the way the system breaths and yes it is coolant but you shouldn't loose any.

im loosing coolant and smell it also, it looks like it was coming from the hose clamp so i put a new clamp on and im still loosing coolant. has anyone found out whats the problem with this? i have the car tuned with plugs, intakes and spark plugs im not sure if its to much power thats way its pushing it out the clamp? please let me know if this happening to anyone else!!!!???

 

[MerlintheMad]

im loosing coolant and smell it also, it looks like it was coming from the hose clamp so i put a new clamp on and im still loosing coolant. has anyone found out whats the problem with this? i have the car tuned with plugs, intakes and spark plugs im not sure if its to much power thats way its pushing it out the clamp? please let me know if this happening to anyone else!!!!???

Welcome to the forum. Is your 2020 from new, or are you a second owner? Did you do the mods? Was it smelling and losing before the mods or only after? Believe this: if Kia can point to "too much power" and deny your warranty work to fix the cooling system, they will.

 

[drivnu100]

I’ve smelled Coolant since my stinger was new. I notice it more when I’ve driven the car hard. I never smell it in the car but I can get a hint of it when I open the door or stand near the hood. I have not seen any leaks or loss of coolant. The car has 5000km on it now. Do you guys notice the same thing? My 2015 rubicon had a bit of a coolant smell as well and same with my genesis r spec v8. I’m guessing it’s just the way the coolant system works and it’s just the smell from the breather.

I have a 2020 V6 Sorento LX. Exactly the same thing I'm experiencing. I have 11300 miles on it and I've actually added close to 1 gallon of antifreeze to the reservoir since it was new. I can't see where it's leaking and it's like the fans front the radiator even push that smell to the rear of the vehicle also. I'm getting ready to take mine to Kia and see what they have to say about the matter. Besides you shouldn't be smelling antifreeze from a brand new vehicle.

 

[drivnu100]

im loosing coolant and smell it also, it looks like it was coming from the hose clamp so i put a new clamp on and im still loosing coolant. has anyone found out whats the problem with this? i have the car tuned with plugs, intakes and spark plugs im not sure if its to much power thats way its pushing it out the clamp? please let me know if this happening to anyone else!!!!???

Same thing with my 2020 V6 Sorento. I can't find a leak but I smell it walking around the car when it's running. I've also smelled it when it wasn't running. I've never owned a vehicle that smells like antifreeze all the time. I've added nearly 1 gallon since I bought it new 11,300 miles ago. My 16 Forte had Zero problems fyi. Shouldn't have to smell coolant on a new vehicle but if that is legitimately how the system breathes (as I've heard other say) then fine. Otherwise I don't like it.

 

[Transmetal]

I hit about 8,500 miles and my fiance was complaining about the coolant smell this weekend while we were out driving around. No leaks, has had the coolant smell off and on since I bought it new. Even had the dealership check it out once. They couldn't find anything wrong they claimed.

 

[5tinger]

The OEM washer fluid smells good. Has a masculine cologne scent.

 

[vipeboy2000]

we had the coolant smell since new as well... still get it now at 18k miles ... but the level has not dropped at all since new...

 

[byebyeSTI]

the tick at start is the high pressure fuel pump doing its noisy ass thing at start up ,

mine has the coolant smell after driving hard as well , its actually the coolant pipe o rings leaking vapor after the car is shut off
not the reservoir leaking vapor the coolant system is sealed . it can be fixed by installing new o rings and using some sealant
to prevent it from "leaking" . i have the smell , but no coolant loss .

 

[Snowwhite]

which coolant pipe? i've had the smell for almost 2 years now. I lose coolant very slowly, like 3k miles to go from full mark to bottom mark (cold).

 

[JSolo]

This must be a unique feature to kia/hyundai. My 2.5T stinger has it. Same for the hyundai sonata nline I test drove.

In the 2 1/2 months i've owned the car, the level has dropped ~1/4" in the reservoir. ~2100 miles. Yet no visible external leaks.

 

[Grump]

OEM doesnt ship washer fluid, the dealer puts it in at pre-delivery inspection... at least this is what my dealer told me.

I specifically asked if it shipped with washer fluid, or if they put it in, this was their response;

The dealership installs the washer fluid. We buy it in an industrial container. It's kind of orange in colour. On the product, it says "15204 Windshield Washer Fluid" by UltraClear.

I wanted more because it smells fantastic. Unfortunately they get it from a bulk company in Ontario that doesn't sell to consumers. Anyone wanna group buy 4000L of washer fluid?

 

[RedCal]

I only do Rain-X -45.... count me out of the group buy. Lol