Coolant Smell

[03Std]

Hi guys! I'm new here. A couple of months ago I purchased a 2005 XC70 with 138000 miles on it. Love the car, but on long drives I can smell coolant. Don't see or feel any leaks around the radiator or hoses, and don't smell coolant on shorter drives. Can't see where the level has diminished, either.

The local Volvo mechanic said I need a new radiator, though. $850 ...

Someone else told me it might be the radiator cap. I went and bought one for $12, but for the life of me can't see where it goes ... this radiator is unlike any other car I've ever owned.

I've read the older threads re: radiator problems, but none seem to address just the odor ...

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

[Aviator]

Someone else told me it might be the radiator cap. I went and bought one for $12, but for the life of me can't see where it goes ... this radiator is unlike any other car I've ever owned.

There is no radiator cap....just a green cap for the coolant reservoir. Does your windscreen fog up or have a slimey film on it? Perhaps the heater core O rings are leaking slightly.

Dave.

[03Std]

There is no radiator cap....just a green cap for the coolant reservoir. Does your windscreen fog up or have a slimey film on it? Perhaps the heater core O rings are leaking slightly.

Dave.

No fogging or film on the windscreen. Windshield?

[lexefx]

I have a similar smell. It appears to be coming through the climate control system. It's extremely faint, and not at all constant. My wife can't even smell it. Windshield is clear, carpet is dry. My initial reaction would be the heater core is leaking ever so little. I am not a fan of those seal-all products. Can anyone shed any light on this? My04 87k

[JRL]

You need to check at the heater core.
I've never had to replace a core on a P2 but I understand it's not as easy as a Gen 1

[gibbons]

Not trying to be a wiseguy, but I had the smell once too. After pulling my hair out trying to find it, I traced the smell to my windshield washer fluid fwiw.....

[lexefx]

You need to check at the heater core.
I've never had to replace a core on a P2 but I understand it's not as easy as a Gen 1

I will get a look up there this weekend. Thanks Jim!

[lexefx]

I traced the smell to my windshield washer fluid fwiw.....

The reservoir?

[billr99]

The reservoir?

Very possible. Mine developed a small split in the bottom. Not enough for a "dripping" leak but enough for a seep that I couldn't see from up top. I can't see how there was stress on the tank unless it was a bad molding, but it took over 200K kms to develop.

Cheers,

Bill

[gibbons]

The reservoir?

No, I had to have it more red herring than that. I had just switched brands of fluid. We were driving up a long grade into the sun, I hit the window washers heavy. The smell was so strong I thought for sure I blew something. But then it went away. I went back to the usual fluid I use, and the cooling system was fixed.