I think i am smelling radiator fluid, but i checked the levels and there all ok. So i dont think i am losing any anywhere. I tried the search and saw other people had a similar problem, but i didnt find a solution or fix. I changed my fluid a month ago and am now just smelling it. Can anyone help? thanx

 

Inside the car or outside the car?

 

I think inside, cause when i got out and checked my fluids, i didnt smell it, so i dont know were its coming from for sure. I read some stuff under search saying it could be transmission fluid but i got a 5 spd, so i dont no if that matters or not.

 

You could have a pin hole leak in your heater core... (inside the car)

Also you could have a leaking water pump (under the hood). My old RX-7 had a leaking water pump and you would smell it quite often. The car MIGHT have used 1 cup of coolant every 6 months. (My point being that even a SMALL leak is noticable)

Good luck,

Brian Murray
87 RX-7 Turbo II (w/mods)
89 Maxima (daily)

 

Is there a way to check if i have a small leak anywere, im going to get under it this weekend, but if its a pinhole leak how do i know its there? I maxed my car out last weekend, would that have caused this or some kind of effect?

 

You can have dye added to your cooling system and that will glow under a black light... I heard that they sell the stuff at some auto parts stores, but I don't think I've seen it. I KNOW that most repair shops will have access to it. I'm assuming that you have a VG. For the VG to check the water pump simply look / feel under the water pump pulley for wetness, goo, or a white chalky substance. The water pump is right above where the "V" comes together on the timing belt cover. I HOPE that you don't have a problem with the heater core, because that it a PITA in most cars. (Dunno about the max, but I would assume that it would suck)

Good luck,

Brian Murray
87 RX-7 Turbo II (w/mods)
89 Maxima (daily)

 

No i have a VE but thanks for the advise. Ill see what i can do this weekend.

 

shops have this pressure pump. it goes on the radiator (where the cap is). there's a hand pump attached to it. they pressurize the system and if you have a leak..most likely it'll shoot out.

 

Aright i looked at my car today. I can see what looks like radiator fluid sprayed from the cap onto the radiator and parts of the engine compartment. I also have a small trans. leak. Would this just be the radiator cap, or is it supposed to boil over if it gets to hot?

 

The cap should never leak coolant. If / when the car gets hot it should transfer fluid to the overflow tank.

Make sure that the coolant you are seeing isn't from the last time that you checked the fluid... (should be obvious)

Brian Murray
87 RX-7 Turbo II
89 Maxima (daily)

 

witht he engine cold, pull the radiator cap off and check the rubber seal on it.. often, these are hard and falling apart on a car our age.. if that's the case, simply replace the radiator cap and see if that fixes the problem..


as for the stuff that's already there, hose the engine down really well to clean it off and go for a drive.. see if you can see where it's coming from..

check your radiator hoses for leaks too.. after a few years, they get brittle and fall apart also.