Antifreeze smell in Nissan Rogue

[Wireman1987]

Vehicle is a Nissan Rogue after a drive long or short as long as coolant is up to temp when I turn the vehicle off I smell antifreeze. Maybe I’m noticing this more with cooler weather and spending more time in the garage. No visible leaks I’m going to investigate further see if I’m losing any coolant by placing a witness mark on the expansion tank. Last oil change I was looking around under the hood for visible signs “I thought the expansion tank was sort of on the low side for an up to temp engine”

Where to start?

Check radiator cap and replace if necessary replace expansion tank cap?

Thanks all

 

[rijndael]

Look on the underside of the hood too. Sometimes the belt can whip up leaked coolant and leave patterned stains on the hood liner.

 

[Wireman1987]

Look on the underside of the hood too. Sometimes the belt can whip up leaked coolant and leave patterned stains on the hood liner.

I’ll check for that.

 

[willbur]

Ppl report its the smell of hot plastic...this has been discussed here before

 

[Wireman1987]

Around $25 I’m going to replace both caps. Over the winter I’m changing out the coolant.
thanks

 

[zzyzzx]

It might be helpful if you stated the year of the Rogue.

 

[Wireman1987]

16

 

[blain450]

Toss in some UV dye, run for a day and get ready for the light show.
Obviously you'll need access to a UV light.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Watching the expansion tank level is a good idea but its part of the cooling loop. NIssan tells you to check it completely cold, but I have found on my Nissan's at least that the level can vary by a small amount when cold without any leak. I presume it depends on varying amounts in the top of the rad when you shut it off or something? Not sure how to square that circle but I guess check it each day over a few days?

 

[Marcozi]

Where are you relative to the car when you smell anti-freeze?

 

[JimPghPA]

Find the AC condensate drain under the vehicle and see if antifreeze is dripping out of it. If so, its heater core replacement time.

 

[Wireman1987]

Where are you relative to the car when you smell anti-freeze?

front end smells strong around radiator cap

 

[Wireman1987]

Find the AC condensate drain under the vehicle and see if antifreeze is dripping out of it. If so, its heater core replacement time.

bone dry was just out for a hour ride 30 min each way but did not run the ac

 

[Wireman1987]

OE cap should the top gasket and tin above it be curled like that? Heat + pressure cause this over a 9-10 yr span? Installed new cap on radiator and expansion tank filled my min level with Asian blue. I’ll monitor for updates.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I know it's a very dissimilar car, but I had the same smell coming from my '17 Mustang 3.7. Every day I would pull into my garage after work, get out and walk past the left front fender and a coolant smell would hit me. The smell eminated from the coolant pipe running under the intake plenum. Never a drop of anything on the pavement.

 

[Wireman1987]

I know it's a very dissimilar car, but I had the same smell coming from my '17 Mustang 3.7. Every day I would pull into my garage after work, get out and walk past the left front fender and a coolant smell would hit me. The smell eminated from the coolant pipe running under the intake plenum. Never a drop of anything on the pavement.

Was there a defect in anything or was that just a normality of that vehicle?

 

[JimPghPA]

I'm not familiar with the layout of the overflow for that vehicle, but I had a gm car that had a cracked overflow hose. It was in the area where you could not see it below the hose the way it ran.

Also, look for leaks around connections for overflow.

 

[Wylie6G72]

Was there a defect in anything or was that just a normality of that vehicle?

I think the water pipe o-ring on the front end had a weep in it. I never did see liquid, but I could stick my nose down in the valley and it was a pretty strong smell. Strong enough that I could smell it walking past the car.

 

[Wireman1987]

I think the water pipe o-ring on the front end had a weep in it. I never did see liquid, but I could stick my nose down in the valley and it was a pretty strong smell. Strong enough that I could smell it walking past the car.

Similar situation here around the cap it’s strong I investigated the tube that goes from the neck to overflow but dry as a bone nothing looks wet either

 

[97prizm]

Vehicle is a Nissan Rogue after a drive long or short as long as coolant is up to temp when I turn the vehicle off I smell antifreeze. Maybe I’m noticing this more with cooler weather and spending more time in the garage. No visible leaks I’m going to investigate further see if I’m losing any coolant by placing a witness mark on the expansion tank. Last oil change I was looking around under the hood for visible signs “I thought the expansion tank was sort of on the low side for an up to temp engine”

Where to start?

Check radiator cap and replace if necessary replace expansion tank cap?

Thanks all

First take it up to the car wash and degrease the engine bay. Then run some coolant dye then go for a drive and see if there is any sign of coolant leak with the supplied light. If it's faint I'd bet it's weeping either around the water pump, or hose clamps. Check the thermostat housing as well.