A coolant or antifreeze when diluted is essential in the cooling process of a running car engine. It helps to maintain a favourable temperature for good performance. Due to it’s liquid nature, wear and tear in the parts conveying the coolant could break down and begin to leak, resulting in engine overheating. But you can get an initial warning before a possible overheating by the smell of the burning coolant so you can handle it before it leaves you and your car stranded by the road.
Coolant contains a sweet-smelling but toxic chemical called Ethylene Glycol. When there’s a leakage, the smell often comes from a leaking radiator or radiator cap, a leaking heater hose, a bad intake manifold gasket or cylinder head. You will always notice a sweet candy smelling odour from the engine compartment. A strong odour inside the passenger compartment probably means a bad heater core.
If you begin to smell a hint of this odour within your car or around your engine, you must immediately get this fixed to prevent overheating. If you are not sure, make an appointment with one of our mechanics, you’ll be contacted within 24 hours. Follow this link I Need To Get My Car Checked.