Help! Burning smell like antifreeze / coolant?

I personally tighten the gas cap RIDICULOUSLY tight because the only issue I had in four years of ownership was the gas cap...and don't overfill.

The other smells I can't comment on...as long as it is not gas!!!

Good luck.

 

If the cap is tight it could be the evap canister or roll over valves. I have heard (haven't verified) that overfilling can get fill into the carbon canisters, they don't vent properly and it makes filling VERY difficult. That could also cause a gas small.

From your description I would guess that the burning has nothing to do with the CEL but get a code reader and pull the code. That will tell you more than any guessing here can.

 

Justin- Check for a leak of coolant into your plenum from the transmission cooler. If there is one, the cooler will need to be changed and coolant and transmission oil flushed well. Transmission oil makes a lousy coolant, and ethylene glycol makes a lousy transmission lubricant.

 

Justin- Under the intake manifold. Your transmission cooler uses engine coolant to keep down transmission oil temperatures. If a car has not received frequent coolant changes, corrosion can occur in the cooler and coolant can leak and can also mix with your transmission oil. The coolant smell you are getting could be from a coolant leak in the plenum area, which is hard to see and gets pretty hot. Could also just be a leaking hose.

 

Just follow the vent from the coolant tank. It should drop down onto the top of the undertray on the LHS of the motor.
They can vent coolant quite normally, particularly after a top up and if it is going near the hot exhaust it will flash off.

 

Could also be a bad expansion tank cap...crappo quality...replacements at AW parts for $40. I replace mine every 3 years. see if the vent tube leaking onto something hot. Once the tank is properly filled, it shouldn't be venting much, if at all.

 

Good call on the source of the smell. That is a very likely candidate.

The CEL is probably not related. And yes, most any code reader can get a code. Autozone can read the code for you but they may not be able to translate it. There are standard codes and manufacturer specific codes so make note of the code that they read. If it doesn't show a code, turn off the ignition and start the car again. If you are lucky, the reader will switch ECUs and get the code. If not, you need to hit a shop with an SD.

 

Yes.

 

Sounds excessive to me...