I am the second owner and have owned the truck for about a year; it has been well-maintained its entire life, although I don't have specific records. The first owner was a soccer mom who rarely took it off pavement (and if so, it was probably only on gravel).

It has 130,000 miles, with no fluid leaks and no loss of compression--no mechanical problems at all except for the need of a tune-up, which is on my schedule.

The problem is that familiar hot radiator smell. I can only smell it outside, not inside, so I've ruled out the heater core. As I mentioned, it doesn't leak coolant, and the engine doesn't run hot or overheat.

I just don't know if it's a problem I should simply continue to monitor, or if it's the prelude to a catastrophic failure that I should try to address now. I plan to flush the radiator when I do the tune-up, but I wonder if I need to do something more.

Thoughts?

 

if you smell it, its probably leaking. just not enough to show up in the level. the first places to look are the back of the engine between block and head, classic symptom of deterioration of gasket is as you described. next have a look at the throttle body heater. it could leak and run back to drip on exhaust


uv dye and/or pressure test will help you locate

 

as said if you can smell it, it leaking. rent or borrow a cooling system pressure tester. a common leak that is missed a lot is the throttle body heater, as it evaporates as soon as it hits the engine

 

Thank you both.

I guess a small leak would just boil away and never fall to the garage floor, right?

I'll have to do a pressure test.

 

correct. I have had the back of head leak on 2 d2s....same deal...smell no see

 

Thanks again!

I'm glad to know what to look for.

 

Btw, this is an indication of normal deterioration at the water jacket end of the gasket. This is usually a warning, ample warning, that you gaskets need to be changed but it's not a pressing issue. Some people can get 30,000 miles with a leaking head gasket out the back like that. I don't suggest that nor do I suggest that this is the end-all be-all answer to what you smell.....but if it does turn out to be a slow week from the back of the head you got plenty of time don't panic