Replaced Heater Core, antifreeze smell continues

1998 Jimmy (posting in Chevy forums because there seems to be more responses)

I replaced my heater core because of a pin-hole in it and since then it hasn't leaked anywhere. I also had a pressure test ran on it to verify it is not leaking. When I replaced the heater core, I cleaned up the air box real good, but the leak must have caused it to get into places that I can get to. Now when I run the heater, I can still smell the Antifreeze. I've read that antifreeze doesn't evaporate very easily.

So my question is how do I get rid of the smell? It is so bad, that you have to drive with a window cracked.

Thanks,

Jeff

Some food for thought: is it possible that the inside of the heater case, or possibly the interior components are soaked with coolant? If so, a thorough cleaning might be in order. Ray

Have you cleaned the windows good with a glass cleaner...after I did this on mine...it helped greatly...

I did clean the windows, they were bad! The smell though is coming from all the vents, so it does seem like I missed some coolant somewhere in the venting system.

I didn't want to go back and take the dash back out, but I may have to, I guess.

My main worry is that it won't ever evaporate. Hmmm.... I will try to clean the vents in the dash and if that doesn't do it....then I guess the dash is coming out again. :)

Thanks,

Jeff

if you don't wan't to take it back apart it may take awhile, run it with some paper towels in the defroster & heater vents (don't completely
block) throw away and do again,etc. etc. keep glass cleaner & towels
in car :smokin:

This is definitely worth a try! I'll give it a shot.

Thanks for the advice.

Jeff

I had to take the heat vent module apart in half, since the flapper for the floor heat was broken anyway. What I found is under the heater core there is a small area where a puddle could form before it spills over onto the floor. you'd have to take it all apart again, but this is probably where your antifreeze is left over. it'll evaporate sooner or later, but it will take a while. If you take the module apart, the bottom half seperates from the top and you can run it in the water, since all the moving parts and doors are on the top half. You have to disconnect the valve for the floor heat to seperate it. be careful with that, i broke the clip on both my modules and had to super glue it to the unit to make sure it stayed where it was supposed to.

Thanks for the help and good luck.

Mike