john banks

Strange smell coming into the cabin of coolant on wet mornings, just when the manifold is getting hot then goes away and not a hint of it, but no leaks or coolant consumption detected. If some is spilt onto the manifold and then it gets wet as it would on a wet morning and then fries it off, could the coolant smell remain?

Pavlo

Are you sure you're not being tricked? My engine can play the old "Motul Factory" trick and the vapours smell just like coolant.

Paul

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

Strange that John, I have been getting exactly the same thing. Russell (WUZ) and I checked the car over last week and couldn't find anything obvious. Even when I got out the car this morning I got a wiff of coolant smell

john banks

Possibly Paul. I think coolant is hitting the driver's side exhaust manifold when it is sitting overnight or for longer, and then at just the right temp it burns off. The smell is fairly distinct, but it is easy to be fooled. Could the engine breathers be a bit coolant laden with a healthy but warming up engine that has been standing?

From previous turbo swaps, this tends to happen (more dramatically if there has been spilt coolant) for a few miles and then stops. This is repeated, which makes me think there is a tiny leak somewhere, but it isn't obvious under pressure when the engine is on (or maybe burns off too quick). Job will have a look at all the turbo and head unions tomorrow to see.

On one occasion, it steamed through the vent with the typical acrid coolant smell which made me pull over and check, but not done that since. I check the level regularly (almost daily, will probably damage the cap LOL) out of headgasket paranoia.

Scott.T

iTrader: (2)

John,

I had this on one of my old RS's. It ended up being a core plug with a slight leak. It was only very minor and pretty much evaporated as soon as it came out. Hence it was quite difficult to detect.

The Engine was new from Specialised Engined In Gray's so I got them to sort it....

David_Wallis

It could also be the heater matrix in the car leaking.. keep an eye out for wet feet.

David

Pavlo

Obvious things are to check the banjo fitting on the head, and the rubber pipe from it to the turbo

JohnS

iTrader: (1)

Would suggest having a squint at the heater matrix as well, and all the connections to/from. Could be a very slight leak that's only apparent when the fluids reach a certain temperature.

Andy.F

Possibly just your exhaust wrap getting wet from the bonnet vent dribbles (they still drain down over the engine) the old dried in coolant then has to boil off again.

Andy

john banks

John and I had another good look tonight and can't see any leaks, the coolant system certainly holds pressure fine once the engine is off as well.

Think I'll blame it on the "engine room carpet" for now Andy as you say

Peanuts

iTrader: (15)

I had something similar to this recently John.
it turned out to be the turbo coolant pipe letting by.
it is held by two spring clips and the lower one for me was letting by, it was only a small jet (probably only 1 or 2ml) but this was getting onto the wrap and when hot causing a similar stench.
when really hot and iirc at idle I occaisionally got a waft of steam from the bonnet scoop.
quick replacement with juby's and its holding good again.
still get the odd smell but thats from me having a miniscoop on a wet morning

Andy

john banks

Thanks Andy I'll watch them and adjust/replace if still troublesome.