So I sold off my TJ a few months ago and picked up a 2013 sahara unlimited. I park in the garage every day and when I do I noticed a strong antifreeze smell coming from front end. Is this normal for JKs or do I have a leak? I ask because Im not seeing a leak anywhere and Im not losing any antifreeze out of overflow so very odd.
Antifreeze smell on JK
jaybot
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So I sold off my TJ a few months ago and picked up a 2013 sahara unlimited. I park in the garage every day and when I do I noticed a strong antifreeze smell coming from front end. Is this normal for JKs or do I have a leak? I ask because Im not seeing a leak anywhere and Im not losing any antifreeze out of overflow so very odd.
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If there's no leak, OAT coolant has a stronger odor than HOAT. The expansion tank is vented so there will be some type of odor. Make sure the coolant level isn't above the Max line. Keeping the coolant level approx. 2-3" above the Min. line cold is fine. With a JK, it doesn't have to be maintained at the Max level. If it gives piece of mind have the system pressure tested to make sure there isn't a leak.
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bunch of threads on this... the rad is probably leaking. go under the jeep and look at the bottom left corner. If you see pink residue, you have a rad leak. IF your still under warranty you get a free rad and flush 
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Lots of threads yes, but the smell doesn't necessarily mean a leak. I arrive at work every day to this smell, and have for 3 years. It drives me crazy and even had it at the dealer while under warranty for a pressure test. No leak, just a very strong smell. Would love to do a complete flush and go to waterless coolant to stop this shit.bunch of threads on this... the rad is probably leaking. go under the jeep and look at the bottom left corner. If you see pink residue, you have a rad leak. IF your still under warranty you get a free rad and flush
I may get slammed for saying this, but smelling coolant is not normal. I contributed to another thread on the same topic. Only smelled the coolant, never saw drips on the garage floor. Crawled under and I had the pink eye. A very small leak in a very common place. Dealership replaced with a new one, and guess what- No Smell! I agree with others that say if you can smell it, you probably have a leak. I have the OAT in mine and haven't had a whiff of coolant since the replacement a few months ago so i am not sure that I buy the argument that it is a characteristic of the OAT.
for what its worth
Had the Jeep (2015) in last week for radiator smell and overflow tank almost empty. No visual leak but strong smell over rad cap.
Did pressure test (note: cold engine) at dealer and pressure held for over 20mins, when Rad cap was tested it would not hold any pressure above 8Lbs. cap replaced. Will see if that helps over time.
Had the Jeep (2015) in last week for radiator smell and overflow tank almost empty. No visual leak but strong smell over rad cap.
Did pressure test (note: cold engine) at dealer and pressure held for over 20mins, when Rad cap was tested it would not hold any pressure above 8Lbs. cap replaced. Will see if that helps over time.
I crawled underneath again and Im not seeing any spots that would make me think its leaking. Its a strong smell. I can smell it as soon as I get out of the jeep after parking it in the garage. I guess ill just have it pressure tested the next time Im in. Maybe Ill even try a diff rad cap as well just incase.
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893 Posts
I am on the boat that says if you smell it - it's leaking somewhere. For me, mine was a pin hole leak at the top of the radiator. Never saw it because it would evaporate/burn off before it would drop on the floor.
It was only after that first week in January where temps hit like 5 degrees at night that it started to drip.
The tech had showed me that it was starting at the top - if I had taken the radiator shroud off at the top - I would have noticed it sooner.
BUT - with that said - I have not had any ounce of smell since they replaced my radiator.
It was only after that first week in January where temps hit like 5 degrees at night that it started to drip.
The tech had showed me that it was starting at the top - if I had taken the radiator shroud off at the top - I would have noticed it sooner.
BUT - with that said - I have not had any ounce of smell since they replaced my radiator.
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1,587 Posts
I agree that if you have never spilled or dripped or gotten your jeep really hot, you will not smell it.
But I smell OAT every time I park in my garage. I smell oat from all my friends jeeps. I smell OAT at the parking lots at work. The system is not sealed. It is open to the air. If your jeep getting 226*+ you will smell it, most likely it is actually boiling in the overflow.
So when you had/did your radiator. The engine compartment was probably sprayed down very well. None has spilled and you have not hit 230+ in stop and go traffic or on a long hill. After that you will smell it.
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^^^BINGO..Not boiling but, you will still get Vapors from the coolant bottle vent..plus OAT has a strong odor.
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If the coolant level hasn't changed, don't worry about it. The recovery tank is vented as others mentioned. When in doubt pressure test the cooling system.
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My Jeep has gotten over 226 degrees since replacement - several times, and never smell how it did before it was replaced. And when it's been that hot, certainly not boiling in the overflow - that would concern me. But maybe you're correct - maybe I'm expecting to smell what I did when I had the leak and that because I don't smell that smell that I did when it was leaking, I assume it's not there. Plausible, for sure. Though, the dealer who did my radiator swap told me, if you smell it, it's leaking...
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I had the coolant odor BUT I also had visible vapor from the grill and loss of coolant. Dealer replaced radiator and thermostat under warranty. After the repair there is still an occasional faint coolant odor but no where near what it was before. And there has been no loss of coolant....i went so far as to mark the reservoir both hot and cold levels. Paranoia runs deep...
And as noted....it's not a sealed system which helps to explain the odor.
And as noted....it's not a sealed system which helps to explain the odor.
Just a follow up. Took it in and had it pressure tested. They found a leak at the thermostat housing which was runnign down the front of the engine. Replaced it and now Im monitoring. Hard to tell at this point because they spilt antifreeze all over the place but ill keep an eye on it.
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Any idea what the warranty periods are? I have a 2013 (77K miles) with this issue (finally saw some AF on the garage floor). Would like to get it replaced under warranty.bunch of threads on this... the rad is probably leaking. go under the jeep and look at the bottom left corner. If you see pink residue, you have a rad leak. IF your still under warranty you get a free rad and flush
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2,090 Posts
if you are in the USA its under your bumper to bumper 3 year /36k mile warenty
IF you are in canada its 3 year /60 000km
You are SOL....
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89 Posts
Well dammit then. Guess I'll get one of the cheapies off of Amazon.
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4,239 Posts
Check around your thermostat housing.
I don't like linking to other JK sites, but ... they have pics.
https://wayalife.com/showthread.php...14-JKUR-small-coolant-leak-at-thermostat-housing&p=347133&viewfull=1#post347133
I don't like linking to other JK sites, but ... they have pics.
https://wayalife.com/showthread.php...14-JKUR-small-coolant-leak-at-thermostat-housing&p=347133&viewfull=1#post347133
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