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View Full Version : mystery fluid leak, sickly sweet smell.......?



chris530it
01-29-2004, 12:20 AM
so i have a fluid leak, mid car...and when i drive it the cabin fills with a sickly sweet smell that is very thick. is this lifetime fluid that i am smelling?

Rory
01-29-2004, 12:23 AM
so i have a fluid leak, mid car...and when i drive it the cabin fills with a sickly sweet smell that is very thick. is this lifetime fluid that i am smelling?
Hi Chris,

I would guess that the sweet smell is coolant, most likely leaking from your heater core. If you turn off the heat does the smell go away? It is a DIY job with a bit of patience. Good time to flush your coolant system as well

Best,
Rory

chris530it
01-29-2004, 12:49 AM
never have the heat on, but yes, it comes throught the vents

Kennan
01-29-2004, 01:08 AM
Just experienced that recently. The problem was traced to a broken inlet at the radiator.

BMW525
02-15-2004, 12:15 PM
Hey chris530it could you tell me any more about your problem I'm have a problem sort of like yours I smell antifreeze sometime when the heat is on then after a while it goes away.

rickm
02-15-2004, 01:05 PM
I sometimes get a wiff of antifreeze when I crank up the heat...it happpened more towards early winter, now I don't smell it at all. Checked the fluids, no leaks, etc. I have heard these cars do this. If you're getting a very strong smell constantly and seem to be losing fluid then your heater core could have a leak like Rory indicated.

NoSpeedLimits
02-15-2004, 08:36 PM
The info. at this site may help...

http://www.homeofsbc.com/Fixes/Heater/heater.htm

DueyT
02-15-2004, 09:05 PM
The info. at this site may help...

http://www.homeofsbc.com/Fixes/Heater/heater.htm
Does anybody know if the heater core can be R&R'd with this method as well if it has failed, or only the plastic feed tubes?

Cheers,
Duey