Help Identfy coolant - Strong Solvent Smell

[Slick]

Need help to identfy this coolant that was used to refill 2006 Chevrolet after radiator replacement at collision shop. The coolant is a light orange color similar to Dex-cool but has the smell of a strong solvent. What orange color coolants have a strong solvent smell.

Thanks

Slick

 

[c3po]

I wonder if they put some cleaner in there, or since this was at a collision shop maybe something else happened.

Can you tell us hoe bad was the damage to the car and radiator.

I am guessing, and this is just a guess, maybe some air got in there.

 

[Slick]

c3po Thanks
I am thinking the same thing that is why I would like to identify if their is a available coolant with a solvent smell. Likely need to ask them what coolant they fill with if they say Factory Dex-cool then they have topped off with something handy. And not something I want in the cooling system.

So far after a week of setting in garage, the radiater cap (plastic radiator and threads in cap) is very hard to remove like the o=ring or threads have swelled. The hoses seem like they are stiff.

 

[c3po]

Anytime I have had to bring my car in for something where they need to change fluids, I always bring in the stuff, since I am afraid they will just dump in whatever they have lying around.

If they were repairing your car and the shop was very dusty, they may have had the radiator out, and at the same time the hoses were dangling there and the cooling system was opened and exposed to air.

I am wondering depending how serious the accident was that there is a chance you could have a cracked cylinder head or something is getting in the cooling system, they may have put an all makes and models coolant or if they used an aftermarket Dexacool like Prestone it could have a different smell.

My Dad has a bottle of the Prestone Dexacool at home, I will take a smell of the stuff and let you know what I think.

 

[Kestas]

When I first got a whiff of the coolant on my Mercedes, it gave off a strong antiseptic (doctor's office) smell. Mercedes coolant is similar to G-05. It's color from the dealer has changed from pale amber to orange (or pink) over the years.

 

[The Critic]

Prestone Dex-Cool is reddish orange, not orange. Definitely more red than orange. I don't remember the exact smell, but it definitely does not smell like a solvent.

I think the Zerex and Havoline branded Dex-Cools are orange, but I could be wrong.

 

[ludey]

You might want to do a search on "carbon monoxide and coolant."

 

[ludey]

Originally Posted By: c3po

I am wondering depending how serious the accident was that there is a chance you could have a cracked cylinder head or something is getting in the cooling system,


I agree, what was done?