Loss of coolant

Hey
I have a 02 montana. I had the rear intake gasket replaced a year ago. Two weeks ago I noticed a sweet smell again and a slight loss of coolant. I took it in and the pressure tested it and could not find anything and all the seals were dry. I happens every so often only when I start it up and goes away. Also, do you need to add coolant to these vans every so often? Any help would be great.

Thanks
KC

There are two possibilities here. First, check the oil to see if there is any water in the oil. It will look like a milkshake. If not then there is a possibility that the heater core is leaking and when you start the car you are smelling it. One other thing you may want to check and that is to make sure that the hose clamps are tight. Sometimes they will leak on start-up due to the fact that the hoses expand slightly when they warm up.

You really shouldn't need to add coolant unless you are losing it somewhere.

The oil is clean and they checked the heater core said it was fine. Were is the heater core in this van I might check it myself. I also checked the hoses and nothing. When they did the presure test wouldn't something like that show?

Thanks
KC

The heater core is in the duct work under the dash. Check the drain on the firewall as it could be leaking slightly and that would allow the coolant to come out without you actually seeing it. As for the hoses leaking if the car was warm or hot the expansion of the rubber has already taken place. Check it with the car stone cold, by that I mean having sat for at least 8 hours and not running before the test. Also check the hose from the radiator cap to the coolant reservoir as it could have a slight leak too.

Turn on the heat and run the defroster you should smell a bad heater core if you have sinus have yor wife smell it. It will also fog up your windows.

...Sometimes they will leak on start-up due to the fact that the hoses expand slightly when they warm up....

There is a 3/8" heater hose the connects both sides of a flow-through heater for the intake chamber on the back end of the engine (left side of the van) immediately below the throttle body and sensor. Every time the van started some coolant was forced out.

It's a pain to get at, but with patience and a pair of good pliers you can ensure that the two hose clamps that connect to the rear coolant rail are actually on the hoses and seated properly.

When I had our van done, the tech forgot to put the hose clamps back on. Even though the hoses were connected and really they couldn't come off because of the way they connect, it still leaked coolant and the sweet smell entered the cabin.

Something else to check.