Sweet smell when I go WOT

KDR83

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Posts
542
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa, FL
I get a sweet smell when I go WOT or just get into higher RPMs. I believe it's the smell of coolant. What can cause this? There is no evaporation or smoke out of my tailpipes on startup, cold or warm. I am changing the oil this weekend so I will check what that looks like. Is it possible I have a coolant leak somewhere and it leaks when the system gets pressurized under a higher throttle? Any places that are prone to leak that I should check first? The car runs fine.
 

Jack B

Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 5, 2000
Posts
3,485
Reaction score
0
Location
NE Ohio
My vote also, if the smell is in the car. If it is outside the car, I vote for post 2 and 3, plus, you can add the front coolant bottle. One caveat - if you have silicone hoses you will probably get the odor normally when nothing is wrong.


heatercore possibly
 

daveg

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Posts
382
Reaction score
47
Location
Mass...
Any steam / fogging on the inside of the windshield with defrosters on? Signs of antifreeze on the passenger floor?
 

DrumrBoy

Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 21, 2003
Posts
2,612
Reaction score
0
Location
GA
If its the heater core there should be some detectable wet around or below the core. The under load part is weird, load wouldn't affect the heater core much.....certainly not as much as opening and closing the "heat" setting on the dash right?
 
OP
OP
K

KDR83

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Posts
542
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa, FL
I haven't really had a chance to look around, where is the heater core located? You can definitely smell it in the car however my AC needs to be refilled so I am driving with my windows down. I will rent the pressure tester and check the valve covers this weekend.

No steam on windshield
 
OP
OP
K

KDR83

Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 13, 2012
Posts
542
Reaction score
0
Location
Tampa, FL
I would think if it was something inside the car I would smell it all the time? This I smell it right after I let off the throttle and then it goes away after a few seconds
 

daveg

Enthusiast
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
Posts
382
Reaction score
47
Location
Mass...
I would think if it was something inside the car I would smell it all the time? This I smell it right after I let off the throttle and then it goes away after a few seconds
No one is saying it is the core, just something to eliminate.
 

Dom426h

Enthusiast
Joined
Oct 26, 2007
Posts
2,632
Reaction score
0
Location
DE
Check the rear trunk/hatch breather vents. Pull up the carpet in the sides of your trunk and you will see a multiple louver/flap thingys. If a few are stuck open then that is more likely your problem. At WOT with the windows down exhaust fumes can get sucked in em if not sealing properly.

They are delicate. Be gentle pulling each one back down in place.
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
153,644
Posts
1,685,209
Members
18,221
Latest member
tractor1996
Top