The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Smelling Coolant

Hey Guys,

after putting on the new heater hoses and getting rid of the PO's inline heater hose shutoff valve
that had been frozen shut, I now have good heat but I started noticing a smell of coolant...

I have looked all around and I can't see any leaking anywhere (rad,new hose connections,heater core ect) and the stat is opening properly and op temp seems correct...
can't figure out why I'm smelling that...I'm thinking maybe since the core had nothing circulating thru it for so long and now it is? I dunno...strange esp since I can't see any leaks and the sys is obviously holding pressure...
almost forgot...this is irt my 67 C-10 with the '400' SB in it...

any Ideas would be appreciated...

BTW
Happy New Year....

The odor of anti-freeze is generally noticable after working on a heater core or changing out hoses. This stuff doesn't evaporate from surfaces and needs to be cleaned from them so likely some got on the underhood and underdash parts and thats what your smelling.

If your windshield isn't fogging over the second you turn the heater/defroster on the core isn't leaking. It's probably nothing to worry about.

I went back later and now after it sat a bit I can see where it looks like a possible hairline crack is leaking some at the hose connection on the top of the core..how bad of a job is it to put a new one in?...it looks like re-pros can be had for only about 45 or 50 bucks...no telling how old this one was anyway...

you're smelling the coolant that was spilt when you took the hoses off. My 66 C-10 did the same thing. I just hosed the firewall and inner fenders off one afternoon when the engine was at air temperature.