Heavy Coolant smell at light but no leak, losing coolant somewhere!?

[xFrxdx 3.8]

So i just had my 3.8 engine replaced last week and ever since then there is this extremely strong smell of coolant i can’t find it leaking below the engine or in the front by radiator. I’m assuming it’s either pressure related and dripping from rear and burning on the exhaust or on the engine, but at red lights i can get a very strong smell of coolant from the front of the car. But only after i’ve driven the car for a bit of time. I’m tryin to fix this issue myself without spending another arm and leg at a shop. Any ideas?

Edit- I have found some coolant residue under my throttle body and it looks fairly fresh(it’s a bit everywhere on the lines.) Are there any coolant bypasses located underneath/connect to the throttle body?

 

[jep604]

So i just had my 3.8 engine replaced last week and ever since then there is this extremely strong smell of coolant i can’t find it leaking below the engine or in the front by radiator. I’m assuming it’s either pressure related and dripping from rear and burning on the exhaust or on the engine, but at red lights i can get a very strong smell of coolant from the front of the car. But only after i’ve driven the car for a bit of time. I’m tryin to fix this issue myself without spending another arm and leg at a shop. Any ideas?

Are you sure it's your vehicle making the smell?

 

[Alfer]

If this was done recently, why aren't you going back to the shop and making them check/fix?

I just had my engine replaced on my 2015 and they gave me a 2 year. 24,000 mile warranty.

Have you run the car through a good drive thru car wash that can wash the underbelly to maybe wash off any possible residual fluids?

 

[xFrxdx 3.8]

Are you sure it's your vehicle making the smell?

Yes i’ve made sure multiple times to be safe and my car ran out of coolant this morning again(in the overflow) i made a edit to the post if it helps at all.

 

[xFrxdx 3.8]

If this was done recently, why aren't you going back to the shop and making them check/fix?

I just had my engine replaced on my 2015 and they gave me a 2 year. 24,000 mile warranty.

Have you run the car through a good drive thru car wash that can wash the underbelly to maybe wash off any possible residual fluids?

so my engine has a 3y warranty for parts but not for labor, i just spent 7k on a engine and 2k on labor and parts. i don’t have a way of getting to work without my vehicle that’s why i don’t wanna send it to the shop unless i have to.

 

[jep604]

Yes i’ve made sure multiple times to be safe and my car ran out of coolant this morning again(in the overflow) i made a edit to the post if it helps at all.

Leaking from the overflow reservoir or blowing out? Was it damaged during the engine swap?

 

[xFrxdx 3.8]

Leaking from the overflow reservoir or blowing out? Was it damaged during the engine swap?

No my overflow seems fine, there is a notable coolant leak below my throttle body though, like residue. its above the exhaust so imma do some research and see if thats the issue

 

[WestPennGen]

The 3.8 has coolant lines running to the throttle body.

 

[jep604]

The 3.8 has coolant lines running to the throttle body.

Didn’t know that. I’ve never seen my engine without the plastic cover removed.

 

[joegr]

Didn’t know that. I’ve never seen my engine without the plastic cover removed.

Most car engines (all that I have seen) have a small coolant loop running in the throttle body to keep it from icing over in certain conditions.

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[joegr]

so my engine has a 3y warranty for parts but not for labor, i just spent 7k on a engine and 2k on labor and parts. i don’t have a way of getting to work without my vehicle that’s why i don’t wanna send it to the shop unless i have to.

You are in great danger of losing that warranty if they should find out you have a coolant leak that you haven't immediately addressed. If you can't fix the leak yourself, it will be cheaper for you to pay someone to fix it ASAP than not.

 

[WestPennGen]

Most car engines (all that I have seen) have a small coolant loop running in the throttle body to keep it from icing over in certain conditions.

Having mainly worked on older FI engines and engines with carbs, I was surprised to see the throttle body coolant loop on my 4.6.

 

[joegr]

Having mainly worked on older FI engines and engines with carbs, I was surprised to see the throttle body coolant loop on my 4.6.

Yeah, I should have qualified that as FI cars that I have seen. I've had a few carbureted cars and none of those had such, though they did all have an intake hose going to a shield over one of the exhaust manifolds and an thermostat that controlled a vacuum motor that switched between hot and cold air as needed.

 

[jep604]

Yeah, I should have qualified that as FI cars that I have seen. I've had a few carbureted cars and none of those had such, though they did all have an intake hose going to a shield over one of the exhaust manifolds and an thermostat that controlled a vacuum motor that switched between hot and cold air as needed.

Carbureted vehicles is what I grew up with and some with manual chokes. When fuel injection came on the market, I thought it was a “game changer”.

 

[joegr]

Carbureted vehicles is what I grew up with and some with manual chokes. When fuel injection came on the market, I thought it was a “game changer”.

Yes, I dealt with carburetors for several years. FI is great and I am very glad to be rid of carburetors.

 

[tarhoosier]

Model T: advance or retard the spark and set choke. Keep fingers on choke to adjust as necessary for normal operation. Careful of gas pedal travel. Then drive "normally"

 

[Gunkk]

Watching someone cold start a model T is certainly an education. Not a single thing is labeled so if you don't know, you sure won't be gone in 60 seconds

OP: take it back. Let them sort out the issues.