Smelling coolant

[Jbott]

Retired Ford dealer Service Advisor here, few things: if actually coolant loss, you can confirm by monitoring the coolant level for a few days or weeks, make sure to check coolant level the same way, best is after vehicle sits over night and before starting. Next, if heater core, you will most likely notice moisture on the inside of the windshield when defrost is turned on, usually in the first few minutes but if a bad leak it will continue and smell worse the longer driven. Most likely just due to being new, some engine items may have a coating and exhaust will definitely have an odor. I would not be worried if coolant level doesn't lessen in a week or more, again make sure to check it each day before starting! If able, put a piece of tape on the coolant reservoir to mark coolant level to validate coolant loss.

It is coolant smell.

Ill do the tape trick. Smart idea.

Fyi, no condensation inside the cab. Just smell.

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[ehspeakers]

Coolant smells like rotten fruit - a sickly unnatural sweet smell somewhere between ammonia and strawberry.

It smells like Snozzberries

 

[saffrontruck]

Yeah, I have something similar with mine: drove up into the hills, stopped to admire the view, and got a strong smell of coolant in the cab. My neighbor reported seeing white smoke from the tail pipe, so I'm keeping a close eye there. Hopefully it's just seals 'seating' during the break-in period. I have a service appointment next Friday.

Placing tape right now!

 

[mavhopefull]

In the unlikely event someone here is unaware, coolant is typically pleasantly-colored and surprisingly sweet in taste. it is also highly toxic. Please keep away from the young ones.

And most new coolants now contain a bittering agent for that same reason.

 

[Liveaboard]

My 2.0 has had a wide range of different smells. Run it hard for 10 minutes and you will really get a range of smells. I'm at 1000 miles now and most smells have done what I would call burned off. Very few awkward smells now.

 

[YOBY]

It was cold at 10 degrees ambient temp. I autostarted using Ford Pass.

When I go into the cab, I smell coolant fumes.

Looked under the hood and noticed my coolant level at minimum. Dont see any leaks.

Any help would be great.

You may not see any coolant, if a head gasket, it's burning in the cylinders and going right out the exhaust pipe. I'm getting nervous now with what appears to be gasket failures.

 

[TheGriffin1313]

one clue is the 10 deg ambient temperature. From what I have read before it could be the thermal heating unit in the heater unit to quickly raise the cabin temperature using high power resistors. they do emit a smell and to some it may be sweet in sent. Also lots of folks have complained about smells in the Hybrid during remote starts in low temperatures.

But if it is a coolant leak then for sure to be added to the list of issues. Keep us posted on what you dig up

 

[Wrecks0129]

Just had a pin hole leak in a aluminum coolant line. There is a spot that rubbed threw because the anti-sway bar was hitting it. It’s at the dealers now.

 

[RR - All the way]

And most new coolants now contain a bittering agent for that same reason.

I hope the bittering agent keeps animals from ingesting it also. People used to soak hot dogs, etc. in antifreeze to kill animal pests such as racoons. Two obvious problems:
1. It was not target specific; lots of critters would ingest the bait, including neighborhood pets. 2. Although I do not belong to PETA, I suspect it caused inhumane death. I hope it is very bitter!

Do not do it!!

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