Why Does My Car Smell Like Antifreeze? Causes and Solutions for Your Car's Smell

Date Posted 2022-06-12

Date Updated 2024-03-04

If you noticed that your car smells like antifreeze - with or without a noticeable leak, you might be experiencing a coolant leak from your radiator, heater core, head gasket, or another cooling system component.

Keep reading to learn what to do in the event of a coolant leak, the cost of repairs, and how to maintain your engine cooling system safely.

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Why Does My Car Smell Like Antifreeze, But It's Not Leaking?

Sometimes, after you turn off your vehicle and exit it, you may notice the obvious smell of coolant - a sweet chemical scent.

If you smell it but can't detect any visible leak, it may be that a leak is about to occur soon.

At this point, a vehicle is typically still safe to drive and not in need of immediate repairs.

However, you will likely detect a leak sooner or later and need to go to a mechanic.

If you want to find the source of the smell, it may be best to let your engine cool off, then examine the water pump or coolant valves for signs of antifreeze residue.

Damaged Heater Core

A damaged heater core will leak coolant and likely result in the classic antifreeze smell in the cabin, especially if you're using the heater.

It also results in engine overheating in extreme cases.

How Do You Know If Your Heater Core Is Leaking?

The heater core in your vehicle may be leaking if you notice the sweet scent of antifreeze, foggy windows, a rush of cold air into the car's interior, a problem with the car using up coolant quickly, wet car floors or an overheated engine.

You can detect an overheating problem by checking the gauge on your dash labeled 'H' and 'C.'

If the inside of the car is relatively cool compared to the gauge showing that the engine is hot, the heater core may be leaking.

Can I Drive With A Leaking Heater Core?

If possible, you should avoid driving with a leaky heater core. A leaky heating core could lead to a low coolant level and overheating problems.

How Do You Fix A Heater Core Leak?

To fix a leaky heater core, you will typically get the part 'sealed' with products that you pour into the radiator after the engine is turned off and cooled.

These sealants travel to the leak point and form a chemical, weld-like seal to stop the leaking.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Heater Core?

A common repair to fix a coolant leak - heater core replacement - costs about $950 on average (roughly $680 for labor and $270 for parts).

Leaking Ducts

Leaking ducts are a common source of a coolant leak that you'll notice when you are in your vehicle and using the air conditioning unit.

If you run your AC and notice the sweet smell of coolant from the vents, you may have a coolant leak.

This often indicates a leak spreading to the air inside your car.

You can also identify a leak from your AC ducts if your windows are rolled up and a film starts to collect on their surface.

What Does Coolant Smell Like

Antifreeze/coolant has a distinctive smell that you'll be able to identify if your vehicle is leaking and/or experiencing an overheating problem.

Coolant almost always smells slightly sweet due to its chemical makeup, including ethylene glycol.

Some people even compare the smell of antifreeze to maple syrup.

Is Smelling Coolant Harmful?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, coolant is not good for breathing (especially when leaking from your car's interior air ducts) since it can irritate your lungs.

It can also irritate your eyes. However, the substance doesn't typically penetrate the skin, so it's not often systemically toxic.

Can You Drive A Car That Is Leaking Antifreeze?

Yes, technically, you can drive a car leaking antifreeze, but it's not recommended since it may cause the engine to overheat, which could cause significant engine damage if driven even for a short distance.

The Purpose Of Antifreeze

Antifreeze - also called engine 'coolant' - is designed to keep a vehicle's engine from overheating.

It's a mixture of water and antifreeze. Coolant essentially prevents overheating by regulating the temperature and keeping it consistent.

Here are the main ways that antifreeze does so:

It protects against freezing and boiling of the water
It funnels the engine's combustion heat to the car's radiator so that the radiator can release the engine heat
It protects against the rusting and corrosion of parts in the cooling system and engine

Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Engine Cooling System

Maintaing a healthy cooling system is easy if your follow a few of our tips.

Regularly check that the radiator cap is tight
Periodically check that there is enough coolant in the car
Flush the system of debris about every 30,000 miles
Have a mechanic check/clean the radiator at each inspection or sooner
Check for leaks at the first sign of engine overheating or the smell of antifreeze

Conclusion

Have you ever wondered why does my car smell like antifreeze?

This problem occurs because one or more parts related to your engine cooling system are leaking coolant or faulty.

Be sure to regularly maintain your cooling system and fix a coolant leak at the first sign.

FAQ

What Are The Most Common Places For Coolant To Leak?

Coolant leaks usually occur around the cooling system valves, hoses, gaskets, radiator, and ducts.

Specifically, the most common place to find a coolant leak is at the hose that runs from the engine to the radiator.

Radiator Leakage/ Cracked Coolant Reservoir

Another common source of a coolant leak is when your radiator leaks. This may occur if you have a cracked coolant reservoir or other faulty radiator parts.

For example, the radiator may leak if the hoses connecting it to the engine are leaking coolant.

Or, you might have a radiator that is completely broken and thus leaking the fluid.

How Do I Know If My Radiator Has A Leak?

It's pretty easy to tell if your car's radiator has a coolant leak because you'll notice a fluid residue.

First, examine the radiator cap and see if coolant has leaked and/or stained that area.

Then, examine the hoses connecting to the radiator and see if there is coolant residue or possible cracks.

Faulty Radiator Cap

A faulty radiator cap is going to be a source of a coolant leak because the cap is what keeps the fluid inside of the part.

The cap is a tight seal that maintains the pressure within the car's cooling system, and when broken, the pressure will be out of whack, causing coolant to slip out.

Another sign of a faulty radiator cap is if the engine is overheating.