Antifreeze smell...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 672
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From: So. Cal.
Current: 2011 W212 Previous: 2008 W211 2006 550 2001 Rover 1997 W210
Antifreeze smell...
Anyone notice any antifreeze smell from the exterior of the car after driving a bit?
I have about 1500 miles on my car and just started pushing it a bit.
I popped the hood and don't see any visible leaks/spray/residue in the front, where the coolant / hoses are or in the floor of the engine.
I have about 1500 miles on my car and just started pushing it a bit.
I popped the hood and don't see any visible leaks/spray/residue in the front, where the coolant / hoses are or in the floor of the engine.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: SoCal
'14 ML350 GONE-'12 GL450/'10 E550/'10 ML350/'09 C300/'07 ML350/'03 E320
I have also at times when pushing the car hard. I am certainly going to ask my SA but it happens very very rarely, it kinda smells like anti-freeze but thought it was just me or possibly a car around me also it smells more inside the cabin than outside...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 672
Likes: 4
From: So. Cal.
Current: 2011 W212 Previous: 2008 W211 2006 550 2001 Rover 1997 W210
Ya. Im hoping it's just normal burn off of whatever from a new car and being pushed hard after break in.
Hope if anyone else that knows, might chime in to give me a lil peace of mind.
Hope if anyone else that knows, might chime in to give me a lil peace of mind.
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,142
Likes: 1,294
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Could be that when you "push" the car a bit more your engine runs a bit warmer. When you stop the engine the coolant can actually reach a bit higher temperatere for a moment. This makes it to expand and push extra volume in the reservoir, which is vented. The smell could come from this.
Also, we are getting in the summer soon with outside temperatures higher so engines are running hotter than winter time.
My Audi Q7 had a nice feature that probably fixed this issue. It had an electric coolant pump that kept running with the electric fan after engine was turned off to keep coolant from overheating.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 672
Likes: 4
From: So. Cal.
Current: 2011 W212 Previous: 2008 W211 2006 550 2001 Rover 1997 W210
Could be that when you "push" the car a bit more your engine runs a bit warmer. When you stop the engine the coolant can actually reach a bit higher temperatere for a moment. This makes it to expand and push extra volume in the reservoir, which is vented. The smell could come from this.
Also, we are getting in the summer soon with outside temperatures higher so engines are running hotter than winter time.
My Audi Q7 had a nice feature that probably fixed this issue. It had an electric coolant pump that kept running with the electric fan after engine was turned off to keep coolant from overheating.
Also, we are getting in the summer soon with outside temperatures higher so engines are running hotter than winter time.
My Audi Q7 had a nice feature that probably fixed this issue. It had an electric coolant pump that kept running with the electric fan after engine was turned off to keep coolant from overheating.
I had a W211 for about 5 months that overheated 5 times and declared a lemon so I'm totally paranoid about that *** smell.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,142
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From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Wow! I would be also worried after such experience.
I haven't checked but I would assume the level in coolant reservoir can be seen without opening the lid? If so you could open the hood after some harder drive and observe if the coolant level raises in the reservoir after engine shuts off. This should happen in just a few minutes. If the level raises up the smell probably comes from the expanding coolant flowing in the reservoir pushing the smelling air out from the reservoir.
