Sometimes I smell anti freeze.

[Mark42]

Sometimes I smell antifreeze after the car is shut off, or shut off then started a few minutes later. Car only has 31K miles on it so its still nice and clean under the hood but I can't find any leaks. No drips on the garage floor either. This morning I checked the antifreeze level after the car sat all night and it was way over top of the scale! Up the skinny part of the plastic dip stick! So I siphoned off about 3/4 gallon from the tank, and ended up putting back about 1/3 gallon to fill the tank to the "full cold" level.

I guess the service tech just overfilled the tank when he checked it last. At least it was the orange colored antifreeze, and it is crystal clear.

Think being overfilled has anything to do with the odor?

[LTb1ow]

What car?

[Mark42]

98 Firebird 3.8 auto.

could be a heater core, do you smell it inside or outside of the car?

[Tru2Chevy]

Did you check the level in the radiator before you drained / refilled the overflow?

And yes, could be heater core trouble as well. Check the passenger side floor for any dampness / scent. Also, if you have been running the defroster at all, you'll likely have a film on the inside of your windshield.

- Justin

[Mark42]

Originally Posted by JerzLT1

could be a heater core, do you smell it inside or outside of the car?

The car has 31K miles on it, and I know from the Car Fax that the heater core was replaced by the dealer at about 1000 miles (leaking I guess). I smell it inside and outside. Open the hood and you can smell it good.

Originally Posted by Tru2Chevy

Did you check the level in the radiator before you drained / refilled the overflow?

And yes, could be heater core trouble as well. Check the passenger side floor for any dampness / scent. Also, if you have been running the defroster at all, you'll likely have a film on the inside of your windshield.

- Justin

Yes, I id check the radiator. It was full. I did look for the classic wet carpet sign of leakage, and also residual smell from leaked fluid but have not found any wetness.

Since I siphoned off the overflow, I haven't smelled it. I'll let you know if it continues to be a problem. Hopefully, the over fill was the problem. I don't think the heater core is rotted out with only 31k miles, and the fluid is crystal clear.

Thanks!