I've done a search and can't really find the problem that fits mine. My coolant is disappearing and I can't find a leak anywhere. I the beginning of this problem I changed the thermostat - no leaks. Then one day coming home I noticed some white smoke behind me (I know what that means). So when I got home (I was only 1 block from the house), I popped the hood found the heat control valve spewing fluid - changed that no leaks noted after.

I can smell the coolant on startup until it warms up then the smell is gone. I checked the inside to see if the heater core might be leaking but it's not wet. I can smell it if I park the car at a store and come back out after a little bit. I haven't seen any liquid on the ground either after I pull out. I'm not really loosing a lot but in a months time the overflow bottle needed to be topped off because it was almost out.

Hoses look good, not wet around water pump or thermostat or heater core. Car runs fine, I do have a 141 code to take care of yet. Anyone have a clue as to where I should look next?

 

When you mention that you can smell antifreeze after coming back to the vehicle, are you smelling it getting into the vehicle or walking by it outside? Also next time you run into this scenario, pop the hood open.. and believe me, this works... inhale through your nose while you open the hood. If the leak is in the engine compartment you should get a quick whiff of it when you open the hood.

If you're smelling it when getting into the vehicle, then I'd be suspecting the heater core. You could try bypassing it (especially with the warmer weather coming up) and seeing if the leak stops.

A few things that can leak without leaving traces:

-Radiator end tanks... often hidden behind the radiator support and fan shroud.
-Intake and/or head leaks.. tend to run down the side of the engine block and evaporate as they go down, especially when getting near the exhaust manifolds
-Heater core (take a real close look at the drain at the firewall, sometimes you can find antifreeze stains or droplets there)
-Water pump weep-hole... a small hole drilled on the underside of the pump right behind the pulley. The reason it's there is to keep pressure from building and blowing out the shaft seal. Also water pumps often leak there before they actually go as it's the closest point to the shaft seal.

It's also possible you have an internal leak (leaking antifreeze into the combustion chambers) but in all honesty a leak this small under that type of condition won't typically alert you with a smell... you'd have different symptoms such as rough idle (especially cold), white smoke out the exhaust pipe, and/or overheating.

It may be worth it for you to purchase a cooling system pressure tester, then you can keep pressure on it for a good long time, which may reveal your leak. Also try doing so under different conditions.. cold, hot, running, sitting, etc.

Good luck!

 

the plastic part of the radiator is leaking, after it warms up it closes the leak up.

have system pressure checked.

 

I don't know what model you have but I have a 96 with the 4.0 pushrod v6 and I couldn't find the leak on mine anywhere. I could smell it but then one day I slid up under it to change the oil and there was one little drop that was coming from the driver's side of the motor at the timing chain cover gasket. It leaks just enough to cause the smell but doesn't leak but about a pint every 6 months. I don't know if this is your problem but I have seen several posts on this.

 

Had a similar issue on my '98. Found very small leak in radiator, high up. Nothing made it to the ground as the fan and heat took care of it. But I could smell it.

New radiator fixed that....

 

Got it down to the shop yesterday, but they wanted it for a few hours to do the test and they were getting ready to close. So I guess I'll take it down tomorrow and get the pressure test done. Hope it's something I can do. Thanks for the ideas I'm still looking for signs.