01 Silverado-antifreeze smell from under hood, no leaks, why? how? Can't find the problem...?

[awbooth]

I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado 4x4 4.8 liter.
I have been experiencing an antifreeze smell coming from under the hood. I checked for leaks in the cab, checked hoses etc and there is NO ANTIFREEZE LEAK!
Very strange as there is definitely a strong odor of antifreeze under the hood after driving.
Has anyone experienced this same problem? Any suggestions for me? Thanks for your help!
Anthony

[Black02Silverado]

Check around the radiator really well. Sometimes a leak will form but the fluid will dry up due to the heat.

[carnau]

1 hour ago, awbooth said:

I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado 4x4 4.8 liter.
I have been experiencing an antifreeze smell coming from under the hood. I checked for leaks in the cab, checked hoses etc and there is NO ANTIFREEZE LEAK!
Very strange as there is definitely a strong odor of antifreeze under the hood after driving.
Has anyone experienced this same problem? Any suggestions for me? Thanks for your help!
Anthony

The best thing to do is to get a inexpensive pressure tester and pressure test 18psi of pressure and search the system for leaks.

Inexpensive Pressure tester - https://amzn.to/2vOMngI

 

But here are the most likely places it could be leaking.

 

At the firewall there are 2 heater core connectors that like to leak.

The hose that runs from the surge tank to the water pump has a Y that leaks.

The water pump itself could leak at a gasket or the weep hole.

The radiator at the tank connections or the tanks themselves.

The freeze plugs.

 

Those are the most common leaks I can think of.

 

[awbooth]

ok, great. thx for your help!

 

[kwOH]

If I remember correct, I think there is like, a little vent or overflow tube on the coolant reservoir, I could always smell coolant from that on my 2005 Tahoe.

 

[awbooth]

that might be it too

[awbooth]

Ok, so I rented a coolant pressure tester. I brought the pressure up to 15 psi as that is what the States for pressure. After about five or 10 minutes the needle slowly slowly moved just a little bit but there’s absolutely no antifreeze coming from anywhere. I did have to close off the overflow hose on the reservoir so that I could build up pressure. Should the needle eventually move just a little bit?

[riverbanks]

No discoloration at weep hole on water pump?for some reason,that smell is strong for me too,just a drop and I'm searching

[txab]

Look for signs the WP gaskets have failed and slightly leaking. It may not be much of a leak. I recently had an issue where it might seep a bit overnight, then not leak for several days.

 

Gaskets are quite common source of leak

[davester]

There's a weep hole in the bottom of the water pump, and it will drip from there down the front of the engine, and if it's not that bad, it will just evaporate before hitting the ground.

[awbooth]

Here's what I'm thinking.

As long as no antifreeze is leaking into the motor I'm going to leave it alone. The pressure tester was a great suggestion as I was able to stop the leaks in 3 different areas. That was somewhat satisfying

The level in the reservoir has stayed full all along. It's been the smell under the hood that has been driving me nuts.

Here's a question- How can I determine if antifreeze is getting in my engine?

The only way I know of, through common sense, would be the reservoir going empty.

Thx again!

Anthony

 

[txab]

2 hours ago, awbooth said:

Here's what I'm thinking.

As long as no antifreeze is leaking into the motor I'm going to leave it alone. The pressure tester was a great suggestion as I was able to stop the leaks in 3 different areas. That was somewhat satisfying

The level in the reservoir has stayed full all along. It's been the smell under the hood that has been driving me nuts.

Here's a question- How can I determine if antifreeze is getting in my engine?

The only way I know of, through common sense, would be the reservoir going empty.

Thx again!

Anthony

 

One way to test for the presence of antifreeze is have an sample tested at a lab.

 

Blackstone Labs for example

[awbooth]

How would I go about doing that? Besides the obvious of draining some oil out. Thx!

great suggestion 

[awbooth]

Sorry, just saw the black stone suggestion-thx!

[carnau]

If you are in a state that tests for vehicle emissions inspections, take it to an inspection shop and ask them to check the hydrocarbon levels in the coolant reservoir using their 5 gas analyzer. If coolant is getting into the engine, combustion vapors are getting into the coolant. If HC levels are above 1hg then you have a leak in your engine, most likely a head gasket.

 

If you are not in an inspection state, go to your local technical college and go to the automotive department and ask them to test it. They will have a 5 gas analyzer for sure and will be more than willing to check it as they are always looking for vehicles to test to show students how. (I currently teach and have taught at multiple colleges and this is always the case)

 

Hope this helps.