issue Antifreeze smell in cab

[Waterfowler41]

The smell is back in my cab...starting to think its the heater core but will have them verify the radiator isn't leaking.  After they originally replaced the radiator the smell went away for a while.  I just have GM install a remote start and all of a sudden the smell is back.  

 

On a side note heater cores are $40-$50 on rockauto and labor is something like $600-700...

 

Out of curiosity, would the faulty thermostat that caused the radiator to fail also impact the heater core?  If flow was all over the place with the OEM tstat couldn't that also cause collateral damage to the heater core?

 

 

[lordathey]

I had the antifreeze smell in my cab and thought it was the radiator. After the third attempt they found a crack in the cylinder head. They replaced the cylinder head, thermostat and the thermostat housing.  Fingers crossed the smell doesn't come back. I mean the heater core could have gotten damage, but I would get it checked out before spending the 700 plus dollars to get it replaced. 

[Waterfowler41]

I’m at the dealership now. It was weird every time I turned left the smell hit me. More than before i had my first radiator replaced. With how pungent the smell was I can imagine it being too hard for them to find the issue.

[Waterfowler41]

I had the antifreeze smell in my cab and thought it was the radiator. After the third attempt they found a crack in the cylinder head. They replaced the cylinder head, thermostat and the thermostat housing.  Fingers crossed the smell doesn't come back. I mean the heater core could have gotten damage, but I would get it checked out before spending the 700 plus dollars to get it replaced. 

What year truck? I assume powertrain warranty picked up those repairs?

[lordathey]

its a 2014 and actually the bumper to bumper picked it up. First time it went in was at 12,000 then at 18,000 then at 21,000 and they finally fixed it. If I was out of my bumper to bumper the powertrain would have covered it. I ask the service writer about being out of the bumper to bumper and that's what he said. 

[Waterfowler41]

its a 2014 and actually the bumper to bumper picked it up. First time it went in was at 12,000 then at 18,000 then at 21,000 and they finally fixed it. If I was out of my bumper to bumper the powertrain would have covered it. I ask the service writer about being out of the bumper to bumper and that's what he said. 

Good to know, they said it was residual antifreeze burning off from previous maintenance.... not sure that’s the issue but I’ll give it a few hundred miles and see if it’s still an issue.

[lordathey]

1 minute ago, Waterfowler41 said:

Good to know, they said it was residual antifreeze burning off from previous maintenance.... not sure that’s the issue but I’ll give it a few hundred miles and see if it’s still an issue.

Also when they pressure checked the system they didn't find anything because they did it cold and the crack wasn't opened. They finally found it after I made the service writer come out to my truck and acknowledge the smell of burning antifreeze. Good luck! I hope its fixed!

[Al1282]

On 2/9/2018 at 9:32 AM, Waterfowler41 said:

The smell is back in my cab...starting to think its the heater core but will have them verify the radiator isn't leaking.  After they originally replaced the radiator the smell went away for a while.  I just have GM install a remote start and all of a sudden the smell is back.  

 

On a side note heater cores are $40-$50 on rockauto and labor is something like $600-700...

 

Out of curiosity, would the faulty thermostat that caused the radiator to fail also impact the heater core?  If flow was all over the place with the OEM tstat couldn't that also cause collateral damage to the heater core?

 

 

If they are making the heater cores out of aluminum (pretty sure they are) it wouldn't surprise me that it could have the same impact, I mean it makes complete sense.

[Waterfowler41]

Truck’s at the dealership again. Getting intermittent coolant smell. When it happens it smells really bad.

So far pressure test was fine, also allowed truck to heat up and they were unable to identify any leaks.

Ugh...