Coolant Smell - where's the leak

[eaglemtn]

After our 1994 Camry is driven around and brought into the garage, I smell coolant. I've tried to find the source of the leak but haven't been able to.

• 194K miles
• replace radiator a few years ago - along with thermostat and hoses
• don't see any dry coolant residue anywhere
• no coolant visible on floor under car
• overflow tank needs to be refilled about every month
• can't see any coolant in the engine compartment
• have looked while engine was hot and running

Any ideas on what else to check?

Thanks

[V65rider]

Do you smell the coolant inside the car or outside?
You may have a leaking heater core.

[eaglemtn]

I smell it outside the car. I've never noticed it inside the car. I don't drive the car very much (kids car), but it ended up in the garage a couple of times and I noticed it then. I've also noticed it when it's parked outside but I'm not around it that often and the wind can blow the smell away.

[04yfz]

Have you or someone else added coolant recently? Could be spilled coolant burning up.

[eaglemtn]

I added coolant to the overflow tank about a month ago since it was empty. I used a funnel and usually clean up any spillage. I have to add some more now since the overflow tank is empty again. The coolant must be going somewhere since the overflow tank is emptying out on a regular basis. I'm starting to track how often I do it. I don't see any fluid leaking around the overflow tank.

[Mister_Perkins]

I would smell the exhaust make sure your not burning any coolant. You could have a very small leak on the head gasket and thats why you can't visibly see any coolant anywhere.

One thing you could try to do is pressure check the entire coolant system.

Go to advanced auto or Autozone and get a gauge kit. Hook it up to where your cap goes and apply 15PSI of air pressure for 45 minutes. While the pressure is applied grab a shop light and look around every hose, under the car, around the radiator for coolant pushing through. This will show you exactly where the coolant is leaking from. If you dont see any coolant leaking, I would start the car up and remove the radiator cap.

If you see small air bubbles coming up while the car is running that could be compression leaking past the head gasket. pull the dipstick and check for oil and coolant mixture, Pull the spark plugs and if they look really clean thats an indication that your burning coolant.

[eaglemtn]

I may have found the leak. I filled up the coolant overflow tank, and then started looking around the engine compartment for any leaks. I just happened to be looking at the area by the water pump/thermostat housing when I saw a drop of coolant fall from the connection of the water bypass pipe to the water pump/thermostat housing. This is where two pipes come into what I'm assuming is the water pump (right behind the thermostat housing). I've never noticed anything in this area - and maybe never looked. I'll have to check this area out after car is running.

Let's say this is where it's leaking. Does this require a water pump removal to replace the gasket? If so, I'm not liking the expense this would involve. I had the timing belt replaced about two years ago - along with the water pump. The water pump failed after 17 months, and I had this repair done again. I'm not looking forward to having the water pump removed to replace this gasket. Is there enough give in the water bypass pipe that someone can loosen the connection and put a new gasket in?

[88 LE]

Originally Posted by eaglemtn

Let's say this is where it's leaking. Does this require a water pump removal to replace the gasket? Is there enough give in the water bypass pipe that someone can loosen the connection and put a new gasket in?

There maybe enough give in the water bypass pipe, but i'm not positive. Follow the pipes and see if theres anything holding it down (bolts, screw, etc..) and where the other end of the pipes attach to.

There is a o-ring and gasket on the water bypass pipe.

[Mister_Perkins]

^^ You will have to remove all that piping to replace those rings easily. Once you disconnect the coolant lines they have to slide to the right.

So for sure your going to need:

1.) Gasket / O-Rings
2.) half Gal. of Antifreeze