Anyone else smelling coolant?

[RLittle]

If your coolant level continues to drop you have a problem.
The operative word is “continues”.

3 of 4 the previous Optimas and Sonatas I bought all had to be topped off with coolant once when they were new once the coolant system bled down.

Also note these cars do NOT have a closed or pressurized coolant recovery tank.

Did you check to see if the coolant is ending up in your oil. It will look like milkshake on the dipstick and oil filler cap. You could also get an oil analysis. I would.

 

[JasonC3962]

If your coolant level continues to drop you have a problem.
The operative word is “continues”.

3 of 4 the previous Optimas and Sonatas I bought all had to be topped off with coolant once when they were new once the coolant system bled down.

Also note these cars do NOT have a closed or pressurized coolant recovery tank.

Did you check to see if the coolant is ending up in your oil. It will look like milkshake on the dipstick and oil filler cap. You could also get an oil analysis. I would.

Thanks for reply. Oil is fine, I do my own oil changes.
Keep in mind the coolant is only a couple ounces low at this point.

 

[RLittle]

A couple inches in 1600 miles is not abnormal

 

[Ahawk1968]

Wow. ...and I thought it was just me. I get the intermittent coolant smell too. Never overwhelming, just a slight whiff... Will continue to watch...

 

[ZilWin]

I get the coolant smell too. Coolant looks OK on the marks on the bottle but the coolant dipstick doesn't seem to correspond. Which marks are the ones to use to determine coolant level? the ones on the bottle or the dipstick markings?

GT2. Just over 2k miles.

 

[RLittle]

I get the coolant smell too. Coolant looks OK on the marks on the bottle but the coolant dipstick doesn't seem to correspond. Which marks are the ones to use to determine coolant level? the ones on the bottle or the dipstick markings?

GT2. Just over 2k miles.

There is a dipstick in the coolant?

I did not notice one.

BTW, the cold weather will cause the level in your surge tank to drop a little.

 

[PieceOfChum]

I also smell anti-freeze and I now have 6k miles on my car. I smell it after driving for a while or when I get on it a bit. Just wanted to see if anyone had actually figured out where the smell comes from probably the overflow I had a BMW that smelled too but not as strong and only after driving spirited for a while.

 

[PieceOfChum]

Just checked the coolant level this morning and the coolant is a little low on the L mark of the dipstick.

 

[RLittle]

My car is 9 months old. The smell is less as time goes on and my coolant level never dropped.

 

[GenesisG70]

i only smell hy musty socks, no coolant smell here, I wish I could smell coolant instead of my disgusting socks.

 

[Chrisian Brown]

Has anyone confirmed an actual leak??? It seems like everyone is experiencing the smell but a leak has not be confirmed as of yet.

 

[JasonC3962]

Has anyone confirmed an actual leak??? It seems like everyone is experiencing the smell but a leak has not be confirmed as of yet.

Yeap. Water pump on my car. Dealer replaced it two weeks ago. No more smell! My car exhibited a coolant smell from the day I bought the car, dealer said it was normal. Finally, I noticed recently the water pump on the front of the engine (behind the fan pulley) was viably seeping and causing some corrosion down the front of the engine. Stealer finally agreed something was wrong and replaced it.

 

[TheAlien666]

Coolant smell definitely still there on mine, but no apparent leaks anywhere. Had the Kia dealer check it, and they didn't find any leaks either. I guess the water pump will eventually leak enough to be visible ? IS there a TSB on this perhaps (V6) ? Mine is an early 2018 but with only 25 000 KM on it.

 

[G-947061]

I thought i was going crazy! I smell coolant as well but only when the AC vents are opened and not when the cabin air is being recycled.

I have the same issue. Took the car to the dealership. They said it was normal. This is not normal to me. I only have 1000 miles on my stinger. I’m going to have another guy look at it.Im thinking it could be a head gasket issue.

 

[G-443326]

I took mine to the dealer for the wiring recall last week and I asked them to check for this coolant smell. My coolant degas bottle is sitting at the low mark when cold. They claimed no smell present, and the coolant level was normal. I'll wait for the low coolant light to come on, then I'll take it back again. There is a leak somewhere, my entire garage smells like coolant every time I park. My other cars don't stink up the garage, so I don't buy that it is "normal". 13,000 miles.

I get the same smell. I agree, not normal.

 

[G-430058]

If your coolant level continues to drop you have a problem.
The operative word is “continues”.

3 of 4 the previous Optimas and Sonatas I bought all had to be topped off with coolant once when they were new once the coolant system bled down.

Also note these cars do NOT have a closed or pressurized coolant recovery tank.

Did you check to see if the coolant is ending up in your oil. It will look like milkshake on the dipstick and oil filler cap. You could also get an oil analysis. I would.

The coolant level stays the same despite occasional coolant odor. So I guess this is normal for this engine...

 

[TheAlien666]

Someone else said that the expansion reservoir is not pressurized. Maybe the smell is coming from there when hot ? Anyway, a few months in and the smell is still there when hot but curiously not always at the same intensity. Coolant level does not drop. So I doubt that there is a leak anywhere. No coolant in oil either, and no white smoke or coolant smell from exhaust...

 

[1hungjuror]

I have smelled it also on my sunset yellow GT2. Told dealer at first oil change and to make note of it.in the case theres a catastrophic issue.
Love my car

 

[Shadowrain77]

A couple of times I've smelled coolant in and around the vehicle after a drive. I thought it was just my imagination or another vehicle because it was just a whiff both times. But last night I was in a closed garage and smelled it. Looked under the hood and there was no leak or steam trickle to be found. This morning I saw a post in one of the Facebook groups where someone else smelled coolant. This makes me nervous. Anyone else? I have 1800 miles btw. GT2 AWD.

 

[Shadowrain77]

A couple of times I've smelled coolant in and around the vehicle after a drive. I thought it was just my imagination or another vehicle because it was just a whiff both times. But last night I was in a closed garage and smelled it. Looked under the hood and there was no leak or steam trickle to be found. This morning I saw a post in one of the Facebook groups where someone else smelled coolant. This makes me nervous. Anyone else? I have 1800 miles btw. GT2 AWD.