2003 Chevy Venture cool smell

QBOWLER

MEMBER
2003 CHEVROLET VENTURE
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
61,000 MILES

I sometimes smell a coolant smell coming from the engine compartment while im driving any clues I sometmes thing it might be my water pump or shood I be looking at something else. Thank you

Bill

1 Reply

ED ARMES

MECHANIC
129 POSTS

When you stop at home sometime ( I find the night time best because a flash light shining across the engine compartment catches wisp of steam very easy ) open the hood and see if you can see any steam coming off the engine.

A leak around the water pump would show up at the passenger side front corner. The water pump is covered by its pulley and the leak should be visible under and around the pulley.

A leaky intake gasket would be visible on either the right or left side of the engine along the mating line with the cylinder heads.

Hose leak locations are too numerous to mention as they may occur any where among the about 12 feet of hoses on the engine.

The radiator is of course up front.

The coolant overflow tank is on the left front corner. It can vent odors to the atmosphere and not actually be a problem. If the engine is over heating though, you will see coolant over flow the resivoir and this is not good. If this is happening, you could be in for anything from a bad thermostat to internal gasket leaks. ( Keep an eye on the temperature gage.)

I hope this gets you on the road to repair.