There's no denying that the smell of sweet syrup on pancakes or waffles is amazing, but what about in your car? Not so much, right? While dismissing this sweet, sugary smell may be effortless, this particular scent can signal major trouble. If you find yourself sniffing a syrupy smell, there's a good chance that you've got a coolant leak on your hands.
Coolant fluid, also known as a mixture of water and antifreeze, has a vital function in your car. It is known for regulating the engine's temperature and preventing it from overheating. Coolant has specific chemical properties that draw out the heat from your engine. The warm air is then repurposed to heat up (or cool off) your cabin. Furthermore, coolant also has anti-corrosive properties to keep your parts healthy. Coolant fluid flows through many areas of your car, including the engine, hoses, radiator, and heater core.
Coolant has a distinct sweet smell that most people compare to maple syrup. So, if you catch this smell around or in your car, there's probably a coolant leak somewhere in this complex system. When a coolant leak exists, the amount of coolant that is needed to cool down your engine is lost. Driving your car with too little coolant can be very harmful to your vehicle, mainly because your motor would be at risk of overheating. When an engine heats up, irreversible damages to the engine and its surrounding parts can occur. Engine repairs are not easy or cheap, to say the least.
As soon as you spot this scent, be sure to bring your vehicle to the experts at TC Auto Service for an inspection. Our certified techs will thoroughly review the cooling system to locate the leak and quickly restore it. The sooner you report the problem, the quicker we can get your vehicle back on the road again. We invite you to give us a call at (361) 480-0801!