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Coolant smell

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Original source
6 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW

Discussion summary

YOUR RESEARCHCoolant smell

Reported or suspected cause

slow leak

Reported cause

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause

Turned out to be a slow leak on the heater core.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell
Frequently discussed work

Check coolant cap

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Check the coolant cap, it should be blue and the part number ends in 04.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell
Read full discussion summary

Leading evidence: 'slow leak' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'slow leak' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check coolant cap' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.

Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.

Read captured replies

1 matching discussions · 6 captured posts examined · 0 partial discussions

Compare 4 other evidence results

Check coolant cap

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Check the coolant cap, it should be blue and the part number ends in 04.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Check everywhere

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Add ultraviolet coolant dye and check everywhere with an ultraviolet light.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Check first and how serious this could be

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

Any suggestions on what to check first and how serious this could be?

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Run little hot and slight loss of coolant

Suggestion or failed attempt

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context

Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.

Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

No signs of coolant on the ground but it was running a little hot and slight loss of coolant.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell
Frequently discussed actions (4)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

Check coolant cap

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Check the coolant cap, it should be blue and the part number ends in 04.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Check everywhere

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

Add ultraviolet coolant dye and check everywhere with an ultraviolet light.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Check first and how serious this could be

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion · Original poster

Any suggestions on what to check first and how serious this could be?

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell

Run little hot and slight loss of coolant

No successful repair reported for this finding.

0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that contain suggestions
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Suggestion

No signs of coolant on the ground but it was running a little hot and slight loss of coolant.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell
Reported and suspected causes (1)

These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.

slow leak

No successful repair reported for this finding.

1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
Discussions that report identifying a cause
1

0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.

0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.

Reported cause

Turned out to be a slow leak on the heater core.

Original post Read captured discussion
Coolant smell
Coverage and how to read this overview

Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.

6 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.

  • Rennlist: 1 discussions

0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.

0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.

Generation: 20261026T113718Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources

POST 1 / ORIGINAL POSTEROriginal post

2003 C4S with 35k miles. The car has been in the family since new but i have taken it over in the last couple of months. After getting out of the car i can smell slight coolant odor. I havent seen any coolant in the garage. Temperature is just north of 180. Level on the expansion tank is just below the min level. As far as im aware the expansion tank is the original one in the car. Any suggestions on what to check first and how serious this could be?

POST 2Original post

When I bought by car there was a coolant hose swelling going into the thermostat. I had that taken care of at the dealer. No signs of coolant on the ground but it was running a little hot and slight loss of coolant.

POST 3Original post

Take a good look with a flashlight and mirror around/under/behind the coolant expansion tank. Mine had a very small crack and was slowly seeping coolant. Eventually it will drip onto the exhaust and give you that sweet coolant smell. I could see the build-up behind the tank against the frame with a mirror.

POST 4Original post

Quotes source post: 17709748

^^^What he said. My experience exactly.

POST 5Original post

I had that smell once. Turned out to be a slow leak on the heater core. Not too bad to replace.

POST 6Original post

Have the coolant system pressure tested. Check the coolant cap, it should be blue and the part number ends in 04. Add ultraviolet coolant dye and check everywhere with an ultraviolet light. Keep after it.

This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.