So I've been noticing this off and on for a while now. At first I chocked it up to being a new car and maybe something just smelled funny. But if I run my car a lot (or am heavy on the foot) when I park I can smell engine coolant. I've open the hood and couldn't figure it out. I've never seen smoke or anything.

Anyone else have a problem like this?
'10 Max SV 6k miles...

 

is it a sweet smell? whats the exhaust like? trying to rule out blown HG which i cant see on such a new car

 

if we push these 6th and 7th gens (like sudden sharp acceleration to pass), we can get a stinky (almost a rotten egg) smell in the cabin. This has been noticed by many 6th and 7th gen owners. The smell goes away fairly quickly, and no problems have been associated with this smell.

But I wouldn't call this a 'coolant' smell. If your coolant level never drops (this can be hard to determine because of the overflow container and varying temps), then it may not be coolant you are smelling.

 

I had this same smell with my 07 3.5 Altima almost from the day I bought it. I could never figure it out nor did I press my dealer to fix it since it never ran low on coolant or caused any issues. It was just like you described -it would happen on hot days in a lot of stop and go traffic or if I pushed the car hard. I have not noticed it yet in my Max but I think its inherent in the VQ engine somehow. Just my thoughts. Let us know if you have it looked at and what happens

 

When the smell is there it hits my nose and my brain says "Coolant." My first 2 cars had at one point coolant leaks so I've smelled it before.
I'll tell the dealer when I go in for my next oil change. I don't notice any loss of fluids or low coolant so I don't know whats going on. In my first car it was a pinhole sized leak out of the water pump, but that car had 90k miles so it was something that went with age, so I don't know what's going on! lol

Oh well... thanks for the input I'll keep everyone informed. Meanwhile if anyone figures something out let us know!


Thanks

 

I have this issue as well and it is definitely coolant as I know that smell anywhere. After doing some research on the Murano based on the post here. I decided that I can live with it and don't want to deal with the dealer. I even had an appointment setup but skipped it. I will keep an eye on the coolant level. This seems to be a common issue.

 

I am glad someone else brought this up.Here's my take on it.

I owned a 2005 murano and always had a hint of coolant smell time to time. Now I smell the same thing again on my 2010 max.All of my other cars I have never smelled coolant.And I have had alot of new cars since then.My guess that there is nothing wrong at all.There must be a purge valve somewhere to bleed off some extra pressure when it needs to.Kinda like we burp when we drink to must beer or soda.Not that we puked,but rather it smelled like it since we burped.Get my hint?

 

Not only 6th gens, 5.5 gens, 350Z, 3.5 Alti owners have said the same thing.... I think as someone else has said it something that the VQ 3.5 does when pushed hard. I have smelled it in my Max and my wifes G, even a hint of it in my 370z when pushed hard.

 

Good to know and glad this was brought up.

After driving my car for a while, after I park and get out I can smell coolant. I never see any coolant on the driveway.

 

Glad someone posted something about this. I thought I might be going crazy! I have the same problem. The dealer did a pressure test and said there was no pressure lost at all and the entire engine was bone dry. They pretty much said i was smelling things. I know what anti freeze smells like.
Mine does it in city traffic like stop and go.
I was nervous because a co worker just bought a new Max and he has a cracked engine block. So I was a little worried, but feel a lot better now that this seems to be a common thing.

 

I have it mine too but not outside. I get frequently through the A/C vents. Never when I bring it in though.

I'll just have to wait until I smell it and drive to the dealer so they can smell it too.

 

Yep, I've got a 6 month old 2010 Max purchased new, and with 12k on it I've just noticed the coolant smell this past week. Must be because I use non ester oil!! LOL. My dealer doesn't even stock ester oil. Just use regular good old Valvoline 5w30. Just like my last 3 Maxima's.
Car runs great tho. SV, SPORT, BACK UP CAMERA AND COLD PKG. Ocean gray...Gray? Looks more blue to me.

 

Added to my list of issues. If you can smell than your losing it. At some point the venting if it is will lead to low coolant.

 

Agreed.. My overflow tank was low. So i must be losing it. Will keep a eye on the overflow tank from now on !!!!

 

I have never smelled anything inside the car when driving but on occasion, and I've had this with both my Maxima and FX so it must be a Nissan/Infiniti thing, sometimes when I get out of the vehicle and walk past the engine I have smelt a burning oil like odor but never had any oil issues, coolant issues, etc so I think its just a by-product of VQ engines. It happens even when the oil was just recently changed so it doesn't have anything to do with a indication that the oil needs to be changed. Have just learned to live with it.

 

Just after my oil has been changed is when I have often smelled burnt oil for the last sixty-some years. That is because neither the professional oil changers nor myself seem to be able to drain the old oil or put in the new oil without dripping a few drops (or more) onto parts that will later become hot and cause the oil to emit vapors.

Those few drops resulting in odors don't bother me nearly as much as oil or grease on the carpets or leather upholstery after an oil change. That was a problem that caused me to switch from quickie oil change places and have my dealer do the changes. At least he keeps the car clean.

 

I just spoke to 2 other nissan techs and they agreed with me and said there is a purge/bleeder on the coolant system for air pockets.And there will be times we will get a wiff of it.This is a normal function.Guess I was right for once.

 

That is good to hear. I have been watching this thread closely. This really concerns me !!

 

Luckily I have never had issues with the Goodyear dealer I get my oil and tires done at but I would never take it to my local Nissan stealer. The prices they charge for a oil and filter change are absolutely outrageous and just plain price gouging. They wanted nearly $70 bucks for dino and $100 for Ester. They can take that and shove it!

 

Those are steep prices! I usually try to have a coupon that gets me an oil change (dino) for either $18 or $22 bucks. The few times I did not have a coupon, my dealer charged me around $29. That is more than most places, but my dealer does good work, and I love to spent the time wandering the lot perusing the Maximas.

 

rotten egg smell comes from the catalytic converters.

As far as coolant smell goes...

The radiators on cars are vented to an overflow tank (usually haven't verified on my Max). This could easily lead to a slight smell of coolant.

I've never noticed anything.

 

glad to see I'm not crazy but not glad to see that this is a common occurrence that probably isn't resolvable. But also glad to see that it's not a major issue that I need to worry about.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

Yeah, I nearly had a heart attack when the service advisor told me those prices. When I heard those prices I thought there was a BMW emblem out on my front grill !

 

highjacking my own thread.... Damn thats crazy expensive oil change! I was expecting a lot worse when I brought my car in for the 1st one at the dealership. I didn't even ask and then they gave my my total and it was only $37ish including taxes and everything. I was floored! I even said "THAT'S IT!"
My dealer is good. I had one issue with the suspension and they found it and fixed it correctly the first time. The best part is they are walking distance from my house!

 

I just got a whiff of the sweet syrupy coolant smell last night... Glad its nothing. I just want to know why they decided to place the filler cap under the plastic dress shroud?? It almost encourages people to mess with the radiator cap. Not a good thing if its hot.

 

I think Nissan considers this to be a 'closed system' from which no coolant should ever leak, so we shouldn't be opening either the radiator cap or the overflow cannister. But I agree with you that the overflow cannister should be more accessible. The only time I ever open a radiator cap is when the engine is completely cold, and I very rarely open it at all. I do like to glance at the fluid level and color in the overflow cannister ever so often, and wish it was more easily reached.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting with a Veteran Nissan Rep and he informed me that it is not coolant and actually the smell of "Formaldehyde" which is used to release the coolant hoses from the molds. If you take a real good inhale you will notice the difference.

 

If thats the case, how long should one expect to smell the release agent? Some posters are smelling this with more than 6 moths and 6k miles.

 

His answer to that was ???? some sooner than others. I tend to wash my engine with every wash so the smell has gone down more. On the wife's car the smell is not as strong because she does alot of local driving so the car heats up more and burns off quicker.

 

I've done a lot of long hauls lately and I am still smelling it.... I did over 5K miles since Sept 10th. Two of the trips were 1300 miles non-stop. I'm hoping this burns off if it is indeed the "formaldehyde" I'm really sick of smelling it and thinking there's a problem.

 

I would not worry about it. On my 07 3.5 Altima, I put 70k on that car and still on occasion could smell it. The car never ran low on coolant or had issues with the system.

 

I get the same thing as well on my '10 Max. It also smelled on my '05 3.5 Altima

 

UPDATE COOLANT. I did take my car to the dealer (OCT 2010) and they did a pressure test, cked all connections, etc, and found nothing. I did have a screw replaced on the power moon roof which was making a metalic sound. The original one was stripped from the factory.

 

Here's my problem... Bought 09 with 11000 miles, took it home and within a week noticed some sort of liquid on garage floor. Took it in to Nissan and said they couldn't see anything. Took it home and put paper under it and had 4 spots about 2-3 inch diameter in a few days.... Took it back and they said it was an O- ring where oil filter screws on so it was replaced a couple days later after we were told part would b ordered and to take it home... Then about 3 days later with paper under it again, we had 2 spots again. So..... We took it back and they put dye in oil and had car two days and still can't find anything and at first they didn't want us driving it cuz oil was all over and they couldnt pin point it and now they say drive it so oil leaks and they can find it better.... Needless to say, we are very unhappy. And I've smelled burnt oil smell but it's leaking so that's prob y. Any ideas?

 

Not sure if anyone is still looking at this or not.. Recently my Service Engine Soon light has come on. Not knowing what it could be I checked the fluid levels and noticed that the coolant in the overflow tank was low. Replaced missing fluid and the light immediately went away. I also notice that there is a smell of coolant after every drive so I'm really worried about it especially since I am outside the warranty period. 12 Maxima 107,000 km. Has anyone been experiencing problems now that there are more miles on their cars?

 

Seems hard to believe.

Mine has had this smell, whatever it is, since new, for 11 months now. It definitely is not a rotten egg smell. It shows no sign of dissipating. My car does not appear to be losing any coolant. If it is the hoses I would expect all the 7th gens and other Nissans to smell the same. Very distinct when parked in a garage. Also smell it in the cabin on occasion. Whatever it is it certainly does not give me a good feeling.

 

I've owned mine for a year now and I can't say it's the formaldehyde smell as I'm over 100k and that smell should have been gone by now. I haven't noticed it before until recently and I have to say I do drive it hard more than I should. No leaks from what I can tell just the sweet smell of coolant. Has anyone else had this problem recently and had it looked at by a mechanic?