2007 Vibe coolant smell

[philipp10]

I have a 2007 Pontiac Vibe, 1.8 L, auto. 110K miles. Been using the car to teach wife parrallel parking. When it heats up, I can smell coolant. It's a very faint whiff of it and I am not losing much if any coolant. Like over a year, maybe an ounce. I cannot detect the smell inside the cabin but standing outside, I can however, if I lift the hood, the smell quick dissipates.

Could the reservoir leak vapor and cause this? Would a new radiator cap help? Any ideas? No leaks on the ground and minimal loss of coolant over a year.....

 

[slacktide_bitog]

radiator caps do go bad, and they're not a lot of money, but if you do replace it, get an OE cap

Does the car overheat?

 

[oldhp]

If it has a coolant recovery tank, that's probably the smell. My new 17' Jeep Wrangler was doing the same thing. I learned to ignore it.

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
radiator caps do go bad, and they're not a lot of money, but if you do replace it, get an OE cap

Does the car overheat?

no overheating

 

[philipp10]

The wife complains it gives her a headache but it may be all the idling around the CO.

 

[STIcandy]

My 2006 vibe has it every now and then. Look at the radiator. If I look down from the engine bay, mine has some crusted engine coolant on the fins. It's "leaking" I suppose but I very seldom top it up and it's not dripping so I just monitor every oci.

 

[bullwinkle]

Watch the water pump weep hole, the 1.8s are known for seeping SLLC out of the hole. My mom's '06 1.8 Matrix does it occasionally and then suddenly stops again.

 

[nwjones18]

If you aren't loosing any coolant (1oz in a year is none) then I wouldn't sweat it.