Smells like antifreeze in the car - 2001 Ford Expedition

If it smells like antifreeze inside the car, you're heater core is probably leaking. If the smell is outside the car, could be mulitple things i.e. radiator, hoses, waterpump, or thermostat.

If you don't see any antifreeze leaking in the engine compartment (especially around the radiator) you could have a leaking heater core. Does the smell go away if you turn off your heater for a while? If so, that's likely where your leak is.

sound like the heater core is leaking. it need to be replaced

That smell is most likely antifreeze. If the smell gets noticeably stronger when you turn on the AC/Heater, it is possible that your "heater coil" has started leaking. You will need the services of a professional if that is the case. Those are very hard to change.

Another possibility is your thermostat is not opening, causing your engine to overheat - steaming some of the coolant (antifreeze)/water mixture out of the system.

And thirdly, it is possible that someone spilled antifreeze on the radiator etc when adding fresh antifreeze - and you smell it after the engine warms up. If your car is not over-heating and you are not having to ad antifreeze/water to the radiator, then just keep driving. The problem will most likely go away.

I hope this is helpful to you. If yes, please take a sec to rate me. Thanks!
Don

• This I understand, a burnt smell coming through your vents, but how do you know it is the engine overheating? You said you have no gauge warning. Is your antifreeze disappearing? In other words are you having to refill the antifreeze? Is the van stopping and steaming? Stalling? The reason I ask is if you are not loosing antifreeze something else could be going on. Antifreeze does not smell "burnt." Antifreeze smells sweet like cinnamon. Give me some more details like what going on other than the smell and how is this effecting the driving of the car?

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Regards,Tony

If it doesn't smell like sweet then you most likely got a bad tank of gas. Just to be safe keep an eye on your engine temp. and coolant levels.

YOUR HEATER CORE IS LEAKING ITS IN SIDE AND YOUR FAN BLOWS THRU IT THATS WHY THE SMELL GETS STRONGER WITH THE FAN ON

this could just be oil leaking out off value cover and burning off exhaust can u smell the smoke? does it smell like antifreeze ?? if smells like antifreeze more than likely have a coolant leak if has little smell or burning oil smell probably an oil leak

your heater core has gone out, thats why there is no heat and thats from leakage of antifreeze. Usually when you can smell burnt antifreeze it usually points to a blown head gasket or cracked head, smell your exhaust and if you smell antifreeze theres your culprit

If u smell the antifreeze inside the car, the heater core needs to be replaced most likely. It is leaking inside, and will get worse, to the point of 'fogging up' the windows inside.