Sometime while accelerating I will get the smell of coolant as if it is leaking from somewhere or being burnt by the car and being released via my open wastegate. BUT there is ALWAYS plenty of coolant in the radiator and reserve tank. Do you think its just burning off from where it might have been spilled??? but I havent put coolant into the car anytime lately to where there would've been any spilled. I guess I'm just paranoid maybe. But I know its the smell of coolant. couldnt mistake that smell anybody else ever get anything like this??? BTW the gasket is a cometic head gasket. Don't know if those are prone to leaking but I just wanted to include that.

 

In my experience, when coolant is spilled, even a little bit, the smell stays around for a long time. If you cannot find anything at all leaking, then I wouldn't be concerned. Just make sure to check real good around the water pump, thermostat, and radiator for small pinholes.

 

If you smell coolant you have leak someplace. could be a headgasket pushing coolant out the tank.

Take note of the coolant resevior level when the car is cold. Then go beat on it until you smell coolant again and let the car sit and cool completly down. If the coolant level is lower then when you checked it the first time you have your answer.

 

But when you BURN coolant will it still have that sweet smell. Or would it just be identified as white smoke coming from the exhaust

 

I have noticed that when you removed radiator cap to check how much coolant is in it and you spill even a few drops and it gets on your radiator you will smell it for a week or two,even when daily driven.Must be the super long life coolant is just that,super long life and takes forever to completely disappear/evaporate. I have had this happen more than once and have never had any coolant leaks.

 

thanks for the advice. I'll probably try and beat on it here later. But also if it was the head gasket I would see oil in the reserve tank and know right away. Or is it not always that clear???

 

At first, a blown headgasket may not have very many simptoms, depending on how bad it's blown. White smoke means you're burning a $hit load of coolant. Also, a milky looking oil will also tell you that coolant is mixing with the oil. And you can check your reservoir for oil. The best way to tell if your headgasket is blown is by doing a compression check. I've never heard of a blown headgasket on an evo really. Only the guys who installed head studs the wrong way have had issues.

 

I think there's a TSB for the Radiator Hoses on the VIII.
A Oil Analysis would come up with a Headgasket issue.

 

Ummm... NO.

 

You're right... I think it has to do with the water line for the turbo. Check around there!

 

If your water bottle isnt getting low, than its something else, or your smelling things.

headgasket can cause oil in the water, water in the oil. exh. gases in the coolant system which would push the coolant out of the bottle, or you could be burning it. Check your spark plugs.

 

This was only on 05 models so if its an 03-04 this is not your issue. You could have a pin hole leak in tour radiator that will certainly cause you to smell it and you may not lose coolant as quickly as you would think

 

ok cool. thanks for ya'lls advice. I might just go to napa and get a kit they have that will test your head gasket just so I can eliminate that from the possibilities if it tests good.