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Antifreeze smell in cab

morley8065

By morley8065
in Troubleshooting & Recalls

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PMattras Enthusiast

PMattras

Posted
Posted

This past winter I noticed a coolant smell when I used the heater. The smell was mostly outside when I shut off the truck and got outside. I didn't get the smell all the time and felt it could be a loose connection (I didn't see any leaks) and wasn't concerned until I started reading a few of these topics on this subject.

 

About three weeks ago I got an oil change and I asked the Chevy Dealership to check for leaks. They couldn't find any (fast visible check) and told me to make an appointment to check it further.

 

Last week the smell of anti freeze got worse because I was using the heater more. I set up another appointment for today. When I got the truck to the garage there was a slight smell of anti-freeze. They found it had a very small pinhole in the radiator. They replaced the radiator and thermostat which was still under warranty. I only have 22,000 miles on this truck. I hope the 2016 radiator is better than the 2014 because I never pushed the vehicle hard (no towing or plowing) and just drove it. I heard this would have cost somewhere around $1,000 if it wasn't on warranty. There was no prices on my invoice.

 

Seems to be okay when I got it home.

 

Thanks for these topics and hearing from other people on this subject.

 

FYI

 

The invoice also states replaced radiator and thermostat per bulletin #pil513. Radiator is leaking along left hand tank.

 

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=5128

 

If a leak is found, it may be the result of excessive thermocycles within the cooling system caused by excessive cycling of the thermostat. The excessive thermocycles may cause the tubes to fatigue, crack and leak at the radiator headers. A new thermostat has been designed that eliminates the thermostat’s excessive cycling. Replace the radiator and the engine coolant thermostat housing, which includes the thermostat.

  • 2 months later...
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Gofas Enthusiast

Gofas

Posted
Posted

Omg,

Went camping this weekend with family and we were overwhelmed briefly 10-15 minutes or so on our drive with anti-freeze smell in the cab:(

I thought I had smelled it several times before on my own. Just was not 100% sure. Now it's for sure.

Beemer57 New Member

Beemer57

Posted
Posted

New here had to join when I ran across this thread. My 2014 has had this exact coolant smell since 20,000 miles it now has 43,000 and dealer told me twice this is normal and there are no leaks. Even tho it was just 1/4 gal low when I just checked it.

Also I sometimes see steam come from the grill or between the grill and hood When I get the coolant smell

Hyboost Enthusiast

Hyboost

Posted
Posted

Just throwing this out there. I had the same thing on my 2015 Silverado and after watching for leaks and never seeing the coolant level drop I started wondering, and doing some detective work.

 

Long story short, I started using a different brand windshield squirter fluid.

I then discovered that the smell was only after I used the squirters to clean the windshield.

 

Then I parked the truck but left it running and then used the squirters and saw the fluid follow the A piller and drip down on the exhaust.

 

It puffed a little smoke cloud and I noticed it smelled just like antifreeze.

 

I know it's a longshot but use the squirters after truck's warmed up and see if that causes the antifreeze smell.

Good luck!

Beemer57 New Member

Beemer57

Posted
Posted

Thanks but it did it yesterday without using the washer sprayer. I have heard of that before though

  • 2 months later...
LI_James Enthusiast

LI_James

Posted
Posted

Just started noticing this on my '14 with 18k miles. Its right after starting, only smelled it twice though. Is there a known TSB on this I can reference? Guess I'll be hitting up the dealer next week :(

  • 2 months later...
Delta Tango Enthusiast

Delta Tango

Posted
Posted

My first radiator on my 2014 5.3 Litre Sierra cracked at 48,000 kms. (Sept 2015). The rad only was changed by my local dealer then. I was told by the dealer at that time some rads were made in Mexico, and some the U.S. The Mexico made radiators have been found to crack.

 

 

All has been well with the cooling system since then.

 

Now I get a letter pertaining to my truck from "The General" that they have a coverage program 15829 and it states an issue with the originally installed thermostats and radiators. The end result is a cracked rad because of a bogus thermostat. It also states not to do anything about the issue unless the rad cracks.

 

Firstly, I don't just wait for a failure to happen. If my rad cracked because of this t-stat instead of place of manufacture, I want the t-stat replaced NOW!

 

Secondly, I will approach the service management at my local dealer and see if they will change the thermostat without my existing rad leaking? And that should be without cost in my books. I would book the truck in ASAP. If the charge is to me, then I will buy the thermostat from my dealer and change it MYSELF.

 

Thirdly, I could do nothing, Take a chance and hope the first rad cracked because indeed, it was made in Mexico.

 

 

I feel this failure could cause a great deal of grief, and I'm not just going to drive to some obscure place in Canada camping, skiing or something and have this happen.

  • 1 month later...
eppyfish Enthusiast

eppyfish

Posted
Posted

Just an update on this topic guys. Here's another thread on the topic where the details of Special Coverage # 15829 are detailed. When I log onto my.gmc.com and look up the warranty coverage on my specific truck, it now shows "Special Coverage 15829" and shows that the coverage is good through I think Aug of '18. My truck is an early build 2014. Says on the linked thread below, that they cover all costs on new issues after Nov '16 and issues before that look like they'll also be covered by a reimbursement that may be expedited with your local dealership. I drive 50 miles both ways to/from work and I'm smelling the issue quite often. Going to get into my dealership asap.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/194376-letter-cycling-thermostat/

Hope this helps some of you having issues.

Colossus Senior Enthusiast

Colossus

Posted
Posted

Don't be surprised if you end up knowing more about this than the service department does.

Gofas Enthusiast

Gofas

Posted
Posted

Just wanted to let Everyone know that my dealer never found a

Leak and I don't smell anti-freeze anymore since June. I'm not too concerned about it any more as I as then. Will check fluid Levels again soon before summer. And identify radiator origin.

  • 6 months later...
Al1282 Enthusiast

Al1282

Posted
Posted

2015 1500 Z71, Just started to smell some coming from around the radiator, going to take it to Chevy and see what they say. I'm going to tell them to stick dye in if they "find no problem" Because you must be stupid if you can't smell coolant.

Al1282 Enthusiast

Al1282

Posted
Posted

2015 1500 Z71, Just started to smell some coming from around the radiator, going to take it to Chevy and see what they say. I'm going to tell them to stick dye in if they "find no problem" Because you must be stupid if you can't smell coolant.

. Update 8/15/17, Chevy did find a leak in the radiator and they are changing the t stat as well. Only have 20k miles

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