cab smells like coolant - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Camper Power · 11-21-2008, 09:22 PM

evertime i give the engine lots of gas with the heater on the cab smells like coolant. iv checked for leaks but cant find any, the smell seems to be coming through the vents. is this normal?

tcb-1 · 11-21-2008, 09:24 PM

sounds like a heater core going South on you. not too hard to replace (if your rig doesn't have A/C). living in Canada, you'll need that heater quite often!

it gets worse under higher rpm because the coolant is expelled out of the water pump at a higher rate and pressure.

smoked68 · 11-21-2008, 09:29 PM

I agree the Heater core. Its leaking somewhere..

Camper Power · 11-22-2008, 12:42 AM

would i see coolant leaking from the firewall or inside the cab cause i don't see any and the truck doesn't seem to be losing coolant, im not saying its not leaking but i don't want to go through taking the heater box off cause i always hear how much of a PITA it is to do that. and yeah, seeing how its unfortunatly my winter ride to, im using my heater everyday.

**Stocker** · 11-22-2008, 12:54 AM

I agree it's the heater core... are your windows fogging up? If it's a small leak when pressurized, it may be very hard to see until it's in your hands so you can examine it in good light.

**El Jay** · 11-22-2008, 01:24 AM

Sounds like the heater core to me.

I'd say you have a "weeper" & not a "leaker."
You won't see any visible evidence, but you can smell it, or maybe have it fogging up the windshield, or both.

Nate003 · 11-23-2008, 06:59 AM

how hard is it to change the heater core in an a/c cab truck. My truck is leaking anti freeze all down the firewall in the engine bay and leaking all inside the cab as well, is that a cracked pipe or what?

**truckdude239** · 11-23-2008, 10:01 AM

jus t a bad heater core

Painter D · 11-23-2008, 11:57 AM

It's the heater core.

Nate003 · 11-25-2008, 10:22 PM

how hard is it to swap the heater core?

ChevLoRay · 11-25-2008, 10:30 PM

Not too bad if you strip the cab down to the bare metal.....

There are four bolts that go through the firewall, that hold the A/C housing (that holds the evaporator) and the heater housing (that holds the core). There are electrical connectors that you will encounter, too. Oh, and vacuum lines and cables for the control unit.

Like I said, if you are stripping the cab down to nothing, it's not too hard.

**WIDESIDE72** · 11-25-2008, 10:46 PM

My experience with leaking heater cores is you can ften smell the sweet smell before you see the leak.A lot of the time,the carpet pad is soaking up the coolant. It is usually not enough to notice the coolant level in the radiator going down.

Elephanthead · 11-26-2008, 10:27 AM

Yes, heater core is your problem. Count yourself lucky its not a newer car where they start with the heater core and build the car around it!

11-21-2008, 09:22 PM	#1
Camper Power Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grande Prairie Alberta Posts: 261	cab smells like coolant evertime i give the engine lots of gas with the heater on the cab smells like coolant. iv checked for leaks but cant find any, the smell seems to be coming through the vents. is this normal? __________________ eh 1970 Chevy C20 daily driver 1975 GMC Jimmy 4x4 project 1966 GMC C10 Dad's project

11-21-2008, 09:24 PM	#2
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: cab smells like coolant sounds like a heater core going South on you. not too hard to replace (if your rig doesn't have A/C). living in Canada, you'll need that heater quite often! it gets worse under higher rpm because the coolant is expelled out of the water pump at a higher rate and pressure. __________________ Doug THANK YOU to our American Soldiers & Veterans - POW MIA "You will NEVER be forgotten". The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson Last edited by tcb-1; 11-21-2008 at 09:27 PM.

11-21-2008, 09:29 PM	#3
smoked68 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 421	Re: cab smells like coolant I agree the Heater core. Its leaking somewhere.. __________________ 1968 chevy shortbed, Dark Shadow Gray 4 bolt 383 Stroker,Weiand Super Charger, disc brakes, 9 inch, 391 gear, 20" Eagle wheels, muncie 4 speed/ Hurst shifter, 4/7 drop, Hedman midlengths, 3 inch exhaust w/ 2 chamber flows. 1966 Mustang with 306 roller, c-4, 9 inch Detroit locker rear. 1965 Fastback Mustang w/347 stroker, top loader 4spd, 9 inch detroit locker. 1966 Mustang coup, 306 roller, c4, 9 inch. 65 Cobra, 427, T6oo, 9inch, of course. First gen Hayabusa, airbox mod and running 2 exhaust cams.. Zoom Zoom Zoom

11-22-2008, 12:42 AM	#4
Camper Power Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grande Prairie Alberta Posts: 261	Re: cab smells like coolant would i see coolant leaking from the firewall or inside the cab cause i don't see any and the truck doesn't seem to be losing coolant, im not saying its not leaking but i don't want to go through taking the heater box off cause i always hear how much of a PITA it is to do that. and yeah, seeing how its unfortunatly my winter ride to, im using my heater everyday. __________________ eh 1970 Chevy C20 daily driver 1975 GMC Jimmy 4x4 project 1966 GMC C10 Dad's project

11-22-2008, 12:54 AM	#5
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,728	Re: cab smells like coolant I agree it's the heater core... are your windows fogging up? If it's a small leak when pressurized, it may be very hard to see until it's in your hands so you can examine it in good light. __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

11-22-2008, 01:24 AM	#6
El Jay Gone to greener pastures Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gateway to the Delta Posts: 7,354	Re: cab smells like coolant Sounds like the heater core to me. I'd say you have a "weeper" & not a "leaker." You won't see any visible evidence, but you can smell it, or maybe have it fogging up the windshield, or both. __________________ '69 Chevy 1/2 T LWB Stepper: Daily Beater '72 GMC 3/4 T Fleet: Another Daily Beater '72 Plymouth Gran Coupe: ? "Ah women. They make the highs higher and the lows more frequent." Friedrich Nietzsche "Never kick a fresh turd on a hot day." Harry S. Truman GUN CONTROL: Never having to say, "I missed you." Always fire two warning shots into your attacker's chest area before putting a bullet between his eyes. Paraphrased from Louis Awerbuck

11-23-2008, 06:59 AM	#7
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	Re: cab smells like coolant how hard is it to change the heater core in an a/c cab truck. My truck is leaking anti freeze all down the firewall in the engine bay and leaking all inside the cab as well, is that a cracked pipe or what?

11-23-2008, 10:01 AM	#8
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,238	Re: cab smells like coolant jus t a bad heater core __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

11-23-2008, 11:57 AM	#9
Painter D Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW (Forney) Posts: 1,529	Re: cab smells like coolant It's the heater core. __________________ '58 SWB Fleetside...Front & Rear Porterbuilt Dropmember, 6.0 LS /4L60E. Accuair E-level, 20 Billet Specialties (Vintecs) '63 Buick Riviera ... AccuAir E-level, 20" Billet Specialties (Vintecs) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=528853&page=5

11-25-2008, 10:22 PM	#10
Nate003 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bremerton Wa Posts: 124	Re: cab smells like coolant how hard is it to swap the heater core?

11-25-2008, 10:30 PM	#11
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: cab smells like coolant Not too bad if you strip the cab down to the bare metal..... There are four bolts that go through the firewall, that hold the A/C housing (that holds the evaporator) and the heater housing (that holds the core). There are electrical connectors that you will encounter, too. Oh, and vacuum lines and cables for the control unit. Like I said, if you are stripping the cab down to nothing, it's not too hard. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

11-25-2008, 10:46 PM	#12
WIDESIDE72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 7,500	Re: cab smells like coolant My experience with leaking heater cores is you can ften smell the sweet smell before you see the leak.A lot of the time,the carpet pad is soaking up the coolant. It is usually not enough to notice the coolant level in the radiator going down.

11-26-2008, 10:27 AM	#13
Elephanthead Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 187	Re: cab smells like coolant Yes, heater core is your problem. Count yourself lucky its not a newer car where they start with the heater core and build the car around it!

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