2003 MCS bought in March we can smell coolant, but can't find a leak. The other stumper is that the car isn't showing a significant amout of loss from the jug... Any ideas/leads would be helpful...

 

The slightest seepage of coolant on a hot surface will leave a tell-tall smell with very little visible traces other than a whitish residue. The famous coolant bottle leak is a likely culprit, you will have a leak halfway up the bottle side that wont lose much coolant, but will have the smell. Also make sure the cap is on tightly because the bottle is pressurized. Also look for whitish/bluish residue on the bottle, as well as around the radiator tanks, hoses and fittings. Any seepage will be found as dampness and/or a residue.

Good luck!

 

For what it's worth, I have exactly the same symptoms as you. I can smell it from time to time, but there is no evidence of a leak, and the coolant tank seems healthy.

I guess we just wait and see in anything more serious develops, but so far, OK.

 

Check for plastic garbage bags. I just took my Cooper to the Dealer for Maintainance and they found a garbage bag melting to my exhaust! :evil:

It smelled after driving and even for a long while as it cooled.

 

i smell coolant as well, but im not low and cant see any leaks, had the car 8 days now and has been like this since day 2... hmm

_charles

 

whats the smell like?

 

Open up the coolant bottle of a cold car and smell it. I dont beleive the smell is toxic.

Its a sweet like smell.

 

thanks for the thoughts everybody, havn't found it yet I guess I'll let it ride until a real problem arises...

 

>>i smell coolant as well, but im not low and cant see any leaks, had the car 8 days now and has been like this since day 2... hmm
>>
>>_charles

Thats all of your anti rust/protectant layers burning off. It will get worse and it will stain your exhaust something nasty. do enjoy