2009 "S" Coolant ghost leak :-(

[fixman2k]

Hello All...I am a new owner of a 2009 Corolla "S", I have the cold weather pkg, JBL audio, sport pkg, power pkg, and the 1.8l engine, auto trans.

Well....I have had my "S" for almost 5 months, I got one of the first ones in La Crosse, WI. I have 6500 miles on it. I have smelled coolant for a month, no visible traces anywhere, just the stink of coolant whenever I turn it off. I had an oil change at 6500 miles on Friday of last week. I mentiond the smell, the tech popped the hood by the service writer, he could smell it. The service writer herself could smell it. They kept it for over an hour for the oil change and to try to find the leak. They changed the oil, they then hosed it (the engine compartment and engine) with a garden hose and said, and I kid you not "See if that fixes it, if not, make an appointment to leave your car here for an entire day, no we don't offer a free rental car to get to work, no, we don't have tech available on Saturday, so sorry".

Has anyone else had a coolant issue?

Also, I just ordered a K&N filter for the air filter. I read all the reviews, I'll give it a try for 48.99 to see if it makes a difference. I would say I drive "spirited" in style. I get betw 29 and 33 in 50/50 city/hwy daily. A fleet diesel mechanic (and part time weekend racer of stock cars) at work suggested that if you add airflow in, like with a different filter, you have to equalize airflow out, with an alterred exhaust, to increase performance. Makes sense...what do you think?.

If this car is a stinker, I am going to trade my "S" in and see if I can still buy a Yugo for my next car...for now, I am a sad and disappointed new owner :-(

Thanks,
Patrick

[rolla-XRS]

Sucks to hear. While you may think you're smelling coolant, are you losing it? That should be easy to check.

But reality is that anything can happen to a car these days. Best to let it sit with the dealer for the day and let them check it out. Normally they'd offer a shuttle service to/from your work so pick a dealer close to there.

As for rentals, no manufacturer offer that - unless you purchase their extended warraty service plans (it's called it ECP in Canada).

My personal exoerience with K&N wasn't good in my 05 XRS. It cost me $60 for that filter...followed by $100 a few years later for the tow, and $200 to do work on the (I think it was the) MAF sensor due to carbon build up. I found out that's what happens if crap gets through your air filter. So I'm sticking with OEM paper now.

[blacken]

if your trying to race your S without a proper suspension mod upgrade you arent going to be doing much
there is very little you can do with these small 1.8l engines
not to mention small toyota motors arent to responsive to breather mods
althoe
this engine is new and largely untested
what its true performace figures are is unkown for the most part.
If you wanted a race-able corolla should have gone for the XRS the S is just a regular model with 5 speed manual option and a groundkit

[EHemmalin]

I had a Dodge Durango that I paid $32,000.00 for and it had the same problem. I was frustrated and mad that no one at the dealership and my local garage could find the problem. I spoke to my friend that took auto mechanics 20 years ago in high school. He finally gave me the advice that solved the problem.

He suggested that I change the radiator cap. I did this and the problem was solved.

You may want to try this. A new cap costs only a few dollars.

Make sure that you let the car cool off before removing the cap, if you do it yourself.

[LeanBurn]

^^ I agree, rad cap thing happened to me too on a VW.

If that isn't it I would really watch your oil and even send it in for analysis to make sure that it isn't gettiing into the combustion chamber to be safe. $30 or something. There are only a few places for it to go.

I would also check your interior for leaks, perhaps a heater core is to blame.

How much coolant are you losing?

[cabur]

Any competent mechanic can diagnose this fault.
All they have to do is bring the engine up to temperature and look for visual leaks. If they don't see it then it'll be internal. A pressure test will tell them.
I doubt it's internal if you can smell it.
If it's internal it could be head gasket leak, porous engine casting etc. This will go inside the engine oil or out the exhaust through the catalyst and no smell. Maybe some white vapor.
I'd suspect a bad rad cap, bad hose or hose clamps or radiator or heater coil.

You should'nt have this problem at all. Just let the dealer have the car and get it fixed.

[Big05Taco]

I had the same thing with my Tacoma and also with my new Corolla - after I drive the trip home from work, I get out, walk by the front of the car to go to the mailbox and I smell coolant. I drove my Tacoma over 3 years and it did the same thing - but, the level never dropped in the tank. I was told it is the vapor coming from the overflow vent and is normal. I am not worried - just keep an eye on the resovoir tank - the pink one.

[Impelled]

I bought a brand new 1989 Trans Am GTA (350 V-8) and kept losing antifreeze. It wasn't on the garage floor or in the floor of the car from the heater coil. Also had the #8 spark plug keep fouling out. Dealer couldn't figure it out....until the 3000 mile oil change. The antifreeze was in the oil case. Cracked block! 2months later got the GTA back....caught on fire on way home! Stupidly , I put it out. They left all the plastic shroud and wiring stuff laying on the exhaust manifold. Should have left the POS burn to the ground!

If the cap is leaking a little you'll probably smell it, maybe that's what you have if your not losing any fluid. Are you losing fluid?

[Londonguy]

A lot of dealers will still give service loaners to get to work if you're out of town. Most Toyota dealers don't though.

[Inhaled Straw]

It's probably a simple fix like a bad radiator cap, loose hose clamp, or maybe the cap on the coolant overflow tank is loose.

When the engine is hot, get a bright flashlight, stick your head under the hood, follow your nose, and look very carefully for any signs of coolant (maybe dried to a crusty green-blue).

I had a similar problem with coolant odor on a new Subaru. No problem with radiator cap. Turned out a hose clamp was loose where the upper radiator hose goes into the thermostat housing. Every now and then, a drop of coolant dripped onto the top of the motor and smelled when the engine was hot. Tightening the clamp fixed it.

[Inhaled Straw]

BTW, I'm pretty sure the 10th gen Corolla has the MAF sensor in the air intake assembly. A K&N filter passes oil and a lot more dirt compared to an OEM paper filter. That oil and dirt collects on the MAF (the rest goes into your engine). A dirty MAF makes the car run terrible (pings and knocks constantly, bad gas mileage).

The 1.8L is not starving for air with the stock paper filter. It's not a performance engine. Giving the engine too much air means it runs lean, which translates to a hotter engine, higher RPMs, possible rough idle, and risk of premature valve and piston wear.