Ok I am at my wits end. My car stinks of coolant. There is smoke at idle and no loss of coolant. I had the system pressure tested and it's fine. I have a new rad to put in this will be my 3rd.

I have tried new caps new overflow new hoses new clamps I am at a total loss.

Could it be the overflow? I have a JMF overflow tank. Could it be the rad? It's a mishimoto. I just replaced the lower rad hose and have an ETS upper hard pipe. What am I missing? I have burped the system my temp is solid and doesn't move. Coolant level is good.

Please help

 

Smells like coolant inside the cab or outside?

Where is the smoke coming from? Top of radiator?

Does the JMF overflow tank have a readout of how much coolant is in the tank?

 

Outside the car. Yes the overflow has a readout. Seems to get a bit lower. Smoke
Seems to come from lower not at the top. I can't really pin point it.

 

I doubt it's the overflow and smoking in that area, unless it's a pinhole and shooting towards the O2, DP, exhaust area. If your topping off the overflow and it keeps getting low, I'd check 2 things:

1. pressure test the overflow
2. check hose from radiator to overflow for cracks or pinholes. Radiator pressure test won't catch this.

Also, when the car is cold, open radiator cap and lightly squeeze on the upper radiator hose. Does the coolant go up the neck? If not, you're losing coolant somewhere and/or the system hasn't been bleed correctly. Easiest way to bleed is to leave radiator cap off and start the car and keep topping off for at least 3 cycles (fan kicks on). I use one of these http://www.amazon.com/Lisle-24610-Sp...8721851&sr=1-1

 

Thanks. I have done all that is suggested. I replaced the hose going to the overflow. I correctly burped the system using something similar to what you p

 

Thanks. I have done all that is suggested. I replaced the hose going to the overflow. I correctly burped the system using something similar to what you posted. I had all parts of the system
Pressure tested and everything checks out. Why I am so stumped

 

The only other thing is to pressure test the radiator cap. I found my old oem and new Oriely's one were bad. I'm stepping up to a 1.3 bar cap. Caps have a tendency to either not seat enough to seal and/or release into overflow too soon (before 16psi). Back in my mechanic days, a lot of new caps didn't pass the pressure test. Oem worked the best. However, I'm now 50% more power than stock and rising, so I'm sure there is more pressure in the system.

If you've done this, the last two tests are a cylinder leak down test and combustion block leak test.

 

Sigh thanks. I have tried a few different caps. I am going
To put stock rad and overflow back and see if it goes away.

 

Good luck! Please update! I'm curious!

 

A couple of things. First, after you have messed with the cooling system some, the odor of antifreeze gets spread around and it stays for awhile. Second, I encountered a radiator that would only leak when hot. Let it cool a bit and it sealed like a bank vault. Finally, I'd suggest just watching the coolant level and the oil. If everything stays good maybe you don't have a problem.

 

That's a great call. Would you reccomend he check the system after a long drive or maybe a WOT pull, leave the car running and check for leaks. I'd rev it from under the hood too. If it is a leak when hot, I would imagine a tablet of radiator stop leak would fix it (band aid).

I just remembered this is his 3rd radiator, so this pin hole leak maybe somewhere other than the radiator.

 

I see the bottom of the rad a bit wet. I am not bashing but I have a 4th new mishimoto rad in the box waiting to go in. Just have it had the time to swap it out. I have done some pulls as well as revved with the hood open. I don't see anything. The smell is very strong and it does not always smoke. My car runs great other than this issue. Oil is clean coolant is not milky so idk completly at a loss. Even had a shop pressure test it and said it was fine.