[Shooter]

Recently, the vehicle has started having a pretty significant coolant smell around the engine bay when I get out of it after driving for a while.

• I can also smell it when idling then pulling forward (like in McDonalds drive-thru).
• I was idling in my parking garage for 30 mins on a conference call the other day, and when I got out the smell was VERY strong.

So, I took it to the dealer. They said the coolant level was LOW, but they couldn't find an actual leak and gave me the vehicle back...

Anyone have a similar coolant smell? If so, what was the cause?

Thanks. Note: 2 issues today; posting them both.

 

[Lil Hemi]

Is there any evidence of spray from the radiator cap? I had to upgrade mine.

 

[30birdy99]

I had a faulty cap as well.

 

[IvoryHawk OKLA]

I've replaced 3 or 4 radiator caps on my 2014 Chrysler 300 SRT in 55K miles, the tank is always down a little so I top it off couple times, then replace cap. My son thought it was the water pump weeping but never saw any evidence, but coolant temperature so high it evaporates. Think the cap is a 21 psi. Thought about using higher rated cap but decided not too. Haven't had any problems with Trackhawk but only have 22K. Could be coolant bottle but cheaper to replace cap.

 

[Lil Hemi]

Mine is 24psi I think.

 

[Double G]

Definitely a common known problem is the factory radiator cap. Have a look around your engine bay as evaporated coolant usually leaves a white salt like residue behind as evidence.

 

[Ken G]

Recently, the vehicle has started having a pretty significant coolant smell around the engine bay when I get out of it after driving for a while.

• I can also smell it when idling then pulling forward (like in McDonalds drive-thru).
• I was idling in my parking garage for 30 mins on a conference call the other day, and when I got out the smell was VERY strong.

So, I took it to the dealer. They said the coolant level was LOW, but they couldn't find an actual leak and gave me the vehicle back...

Anyone have a similar coolant smell? If so, what was the cause?

Thanks. Note: 2 issues today; posting them both.

^^Apparently this is a common issue that the water pump could be potentially failing. There are no visuals or sounds that are attributed to the leak and smell, so once the pump has gone, it has gone! Listen out for a metallic /clicking sound of the water pump and this may be evidence that it is failing. There is a video on youtube of this problem done by an independent review (owner driver)

 

[KennyG]

Good info to know abt TH BUT it may be another problem. I had a hemi in my preTH Jeep. It lost coolant and it was a mystery. Dealer said didnt know and on and on, but an oldtimer showed me the problem. The engine intake manifold gasket cracks or whatever and allows the coolant to be sucked into the intake and burned off. Nothing shows but the coolant is missing. the intake leak is often found by spraying carb cleaner around edges and engine speed picks up. It cost me a G to fix the engine. New gasket and no more mystery.
Maybe thats your problem, maybe not. Hope you have a warranty because when loose too much coolant then you could loose engine. Good Luck. KennyG

 

[Zar_Trackhawk]

How many miles on the car? water pump usually fails between 40k-50k, this was in SRTs, I don't know if Trackhawks are the same. Strong smell is most likely from water pump failure coming soon.

 

[Double G]

Good info to know abt TH BUT it may be another problem. I had a hemi in my preTH Jeep. It lost coolant and it was a mystery. Dealer said didnt know and on and on, but an oldtimer showed me the problem. The engine intake manifold gasket cracks or whatever and allows the coolant to be sucked into the intake and burned off. Nothing shows but the coolant is missing. the intake leak is often found by spraying carb cleaner around edges and engine speed picks up. It cost me a G to fix the engine. New gasket and no more mystery.
Maybe thats your problem, maybe not. Hope you have a warranty because when loose too much coolant then you could loose engine. Good Luck. KennyG

I'm sorry but this is completely false when talking about a TrackHawk. On the HellCat engines the supercharger is the "intake manifold" and there is no coolant exchanged between the engine and the supercharger (intake manifold).

The only ports in the intake gaskets are the intake runners from the supercharger feeding the intake ports of the cylinder heads. Even the useless oil gallery ports in the cylinder heads get completely blocked off when installing aftermarket intake gaskets or the FI thermal spacers plates like you see here.

 

[Shooter]

UPDATE:

I replaced the radiator cap with the Moroso 20 lb. unit; smell still persists.

When I got to work this AM, I could smell the sickly maple syrup coolant smell as I exited the truck. I went around and could smell it strongly from the front of the car through the grille.

Q: Are their 2 separate coolant systems, one for the engine and one for the supercharger? I see 2 fill tanks. If so, when the dealership pressure-tested it, do you think they tested both?

Regards,
-CC

 

[Lil Hemi]

Two completely separate coolant loops. Which reservoir is going low?

 

[Double G]

Exactly, 2 completely separate cooling systems as Hemi mentioned above. If is leaking in front of the radiator there is a good chance it is coolant from the supercharger intercooler system as there is piping, a heat exchangers and the circulation pump up front.

 

[FLATF00T]

Recently, the vehicle has started having a pretty significant coolant smell around the engine bay when I get out of it after driving for a while.

• I can also smell it when idling then pulling forward (like in McDonalds drive-thru).
• I was idling in my parking garage for 30 mins on a conference call the other day, and when I got out the smell was VERY strong.

So, I took it to the dealer. They said the coolant level was LOW, but they couldn't find an actual leak and gave me the vehicle back...

Anyone have a similar coolant smell? If so, what was the cause?

Thanks. Note: 2 issues today; posting them both.

My Trackhawk is at the dealer for same issue. I was told the water pimp needs replacing and the pulley went bad.. The pulley was the sound I heard

 

[Shooter]

ISSUE SOLVED.

Guys, OP here.

I took the TH to a different dealer, as the coolant smell had gotten worse. They said there was a leak in the radiator and installed a new one under warranty.

Smell seems to have gone away. Thank god!

 

[FLATF00T]

Recently, the vehicle has started having a pretty significant coolant smell around the engine bay when I get out of it after driving for a while.

• I can also smell it when idling then pulling forward (like in McDonalds drive-thru).
• I was idling in my parking garage for 30 mins on a conference call the other day, and when I got out the smell was VERY strong.

So, I took it to the dealer. They said the coolant level was LOW, but they couldn't find an actual leak and gave me the vehicle back...

Anyone have a similar coolant smell? If so, what was the cause?

Thanks. Note: 2 issues today; posting them both.

Must be trending.. 2 weeks ago I had same issue.. radiator and water pump both replaced

 

[Double G]

ISSUE SOLVED.

Guys, OP here.

I took the TH to a different dealer, as the coolant smell had gotten worse. They said there was a leak in the radiator and installed a new one under warranty.

Smell seems to have gone away. Thank god!

Glad you got it figured out and fixed. Also thanks for following up on what you found and posting the fix as it will help other's out in the future when they search for similar topics.

 

[Dirtrcr]

I had coolant smell coming from my wheel well for a few weeks it was faint and I just had both my diffs done so I thought it was the oil resedue burning off. After a few days I checked the engine bay because I had a water pump go on my '15 srt at about 45k. No obvious signs of leak under the pulley or at the interface. A few days after my temp gauge crept all the way to hot and the reservoir was 3/4 empty (don't know how I missed that when checking under the hood). Long story short, dealer said it was a small leak in the radiator so they replaced it.

Fast forward 2 months to today, I have smoke coming from my engine bay on the way home. Pull over and open the hood, reservoir is almost empty and coolant all over the engine bay. I had 3srt jeeps before the hellcat with tons of l kinds of problems, but got away without having much cooling issue. Guess the adventure continues....