Coolant Tempt Fluctuating with Smell... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

rozarioorlan · 11-23-2015, 11:18 PM

this morning i drove my car with no problems. a couple hours later i drove it for about 10 minuets before a burning smell came into the car and i checked the coolant temp and it read 220. i live in vegas and even on the hottest days it doesn't go past 185. didn't think much of it and got to my destination fine. on the way home about 10 minuets later the smell was very strong and once i returned home the engine bay was filled with the smell and a little smoke came out of the radiator when i opened it. i just drove it again to get gas idling for 90% of the time and the coolant went up to 200 again and the smell was there. the temp outside is 60 fahrenheit. no smoke is coming out of the exhaust and there is no leaks, and no fog on the windshields yet. the car got an oil change exactly a week ago so could it be from that? is this something that will fix itself or should i bring it to the dealer! any help is useful thanks!

christianchevell · 11-24-2015, 08:52 AM

WOW trying to blow up the engine hey? You could have a pin hole leak somewhere and part of it is spraying onto the exhaust. You sound as if your dangerously low on coolant and pushing it bud..... check the radiators petcock, check around all hoses and fittings and check the radiator core and water pump snout, and look at all areas close to them and I bet you find a wet spot that's a little more than sticky.... Good luck....and if you had opened the radiator hot with a full radiator ....you would have been bathed in steaming burning hot spray as the radiator is pressurized and never to be opened hot........

MCSarge · 11-25-2015, 02:56 PM

Let it cool and check your coolant level if its low start looking for a leak somewhere. And since you mentioned that you just got an oil change check your oil level also. Make sure they put the right amount of oil in the motor, low oil would also cause it to run hot enough to boil the coolant.

And just an FYI, these cars will not fix themselves, anything that makes a noise or something that doesn't work as normal should immediately be investigated. Don't be like my youngest son and figure as long as you can put in gas and it runs, everything's okay....LOL

11-23-2015, 11:18 PM	#1
rozarioorlan Drives: Camaro Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: NOWHERE Posts: 277	Coolant Tempt Fluctuating with Smell... this morning i drove my car with no problems. a couple hours later i drove it for about 10 minuets before a burning smell came into the car and i checked the coolant temp and it read 220. i live in vegas and even on the hottest days it doesn't go past 185. didn't think much of it and got to my destination fine. on the way home about 10 minuets later the smell was very strong and once i returned home the engine bay was filled with the smell and a little smoke came out of the radiator when i opened it. i just drove it again to get gas idling for 90% of the time and the coolant went up to 200 again and the smell was there. the temp outside is 60 fahrenheit. no smoke is coming out of the exhaust and there is no leaks, and no fog on the windshields yet. the car got an oil change exactly a week ago so could it be from that? is this something that will fix itself or should i bring it to the dealer! any help is useful thanks!

11-24-2015, 08:52 AM	#2
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	WOW trying to blow up the engine hey? You could have a pin hole leak somewhere and part of it is spraying onto the exhaust. You sound as if your dangerously low on coolant and pushing it bud..... check the radiators petcock, check around all hoses and fittings and check the radiator core and water pump snout, and look at all areas close to them and I bet you find a wet spot that's a little more than sticky.... Good luck....and if you had opened the radiator hot with a full radiator ....you would have been bathed in steaming burning hot spray as the radiator is pressurized and never to be opened hot........ __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

11-25-2015, 02:56 PM	#3
MCSarge USMC 1980-1990 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MI Posts: 478	Let it cool and check your coolant level if its low start looking for a leak somewhere. And since you mentioned that you just got an oil change check your oil level also. Make sure they put the right amount of oil in the motor, low oil would also cause it to run hot enough to boil the coolant. And just an FYI, these cars will not fix themselves, anything that makes a noise or something that doesn't work as normal should immediately be investigated. Don't be like my youngest son and figure as long as you can put in gas and it runs, everything's okay....LOL __________________ USMC 1980-1990 My other toys are Harleys