2020 GMC 3L diesel

[rsaint]

Has any one heard of a antifreeze smell on these engines, have had it to dealer 4 times, bring it in garage and stinks it up with antifreeze smell, they have die in coolant and cannot find origin of smell.

 

[zal]

Our 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee does the same thing. They couldn’t find a leak and pressure tested the system. Nothing at all. Not losing any coolant either. They claim it’s the AC that’s making the smell.
TBH, I thought this was another sled deck question

 

[tex78]

Has any one heard of a antifreeze smell on these engines, have had it to dealer 4 times, bring it in garage and stinks it up with antifreeze smell, they have die in coolant and cannot find origin of smell.

Is it loosing coolant ??

 

[rknight111]

My NissanNV200, smells like antifreeze too, I've had to add about 500 ml once, It stayed at the dealer for the night on pressure test with nothing.

 

[ABMax24]

I used to think the 3.0 was a cool engine, which it is, but it looks like an absolute nightmare in situations like this:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10165111-9999.pdf

 

[rsaint]

Is it loosing coolant ??

No but when you open hood the smell is there and strong.

 

[rsaint]

I used to think the 3.0 was a cool engine, which it is, but it looks like an absolute nightmare in situations like this:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10165111-9999.pdf

For sure, sad thing is i have to let it cool down before parking in garage.

 

[rsaint]

My NissanNV200, smells like antifreeze too, I've had to add about 500 ml once, It stayed at the dealer for the night on pressure test with nothing.

Gm instructed them to put die in coolant about 5000kms ago and still noting showing up.

 

[tex78]

No but when you open hood the smell is there and strong.

You sure it's not moisture on the ac condenser

I know it sounds weird, but salty wet when hot and evaporated from the nose , does have that type of smell

I've smelt it before and thought the same , but seen not leaks

The front of the truck rad-condenser-intercooler is a big heat dam that's enclosed when the shutters are closed

 

[brianm]

I am assuming it’s still under warranty so I’d let them deal with it. In the past I have found some coolant leaks to be tricky to find but there should be some staining where it’s leaked and dried . I have also found leaks not to be present when the engine is cold and only appear at operating temperature and rpm is 2k+ . Yours is a tough one, I’d just leave it to them and maybe try a different dealer .

 

[rsaint]

You sure it's not moisture on the ac condenser

I know it sounds weird, but salty wet when hot and evaporated from the nose , does have that type of smell

I've smelt it before and thought the same , but seen not leaks

The front of the truck rad-condenser-intercooler is a big heat dam that's enclosed when the shutters are closed

No this has been going on since new and 18,000 kms

 

[tex78]

No this has been going on since new and 18,000 kms

But that's what I mean


If no coolant loss especially in 18000 km , and smells like it


Then this is a option and possibly

 

[rsaint]

I am assuming it’s still under warranty so I’d let them deal with it. In the past I have found some coolant leaks to be tricky to find but there should be some staining where it’s leaked and dried . I have also found leaks not to be present when the engine is cold and only appear at operating temperature and rpm is 2k+ . Yours is a tough one, I’d just leave it to them and maybe try a different dealer .

Yes under warranty, the die in coolant and still won't show up, was thinking to get a trailer and load skidsteer on it and work the crap out of it and see if something will show up.

 

[rsaint]

But that's what I mean


If no coolant loss especially in 18000 km , and smells like it


Then this is a option and possibly

Last time in they investigated the rads with turning fans on and off and elimitated that, smell is coming from passengers side somewhere.

 

[brianm]

Well contact gm and see what they will do . Leave it there and get a loaner from them . Not a chance I would take it back because we both know it going to end up being your problem off warranty. Put a new engine in the thing if you got to , who gives a crap fix it ! Let me know when it done . Sounds outlandish I know but that’s how you got to be with warranty. Can’t park you new $60,000 truck in the garage because it stinks the place out ? Not acceptable. In any case best of luck and remember to be persistent with the issue.

 

[ABMax24]

Did they also put dye in the charge air coolant system? Or are they just looking at the primary loop?

Is it possible there is road salt on the exhaust or exhaust filter? We often get a smell from my wife's diesel Colorado when the exhaust is hot, but I've attributed it to the road salt baking on the exhaust.

The other item to note is the 3.0 runs higher coolant temperatures than most engines, which will pressure up the cooling system and make a small leak more pronounced. It might be a worth while effort to look at the seals on the reservoir caps, maybe the vent is puking a small amount causing the smell.

 

[ABMax24]

Well contact gm and see what they will do . Leave it there and get a loaner from them . Not a chance I would take it back because we both know it going to end up being your problem off warranty. Put a new engine in the thing if you got to , who gives a crap fix it ! Let me know when it done . Sounds outlandish I know but that’s how you got to be with warranty. Can’t park you new $60,000 truck in the garage because it stinks the place out ? Not acceptable. In any case best of luck and remember to be persistent with the issue.

GM doesn't work that way, trust me I've been there.

GM will not provide a loaner vehicle until there is a diagnosed issue with the vehicle, if the mechanics can't find a leak there is no issue in GMs eyes and no loaner will be provided.


The problem with these small GM diesels is the small numbers of them that are sold, the mechanics aren't used to working on them and don't yet know the common trouble points to look towards. The big diesels usually get better service because at any given time there is guaranteed to be one in the service bay, the mechanics simply get more experience on them and understand where the common failure points are.

 

[rsaint]

Well contact gm and see what they will do . Leave it there and get a loaner from them . Not a chance I would take it back because we both know it going to end up being your problem off warranty. Put a new engine in the thing if you got to , who gives a crap fix it ! Let me know when it done . Sounds outlandish I know but that’s how you got to be with warranty. Can’t park you new $60,000 truck in the garage because it stinks the place out ? Not acceptable. In any case best of luck and remember to be persistent with the issu

Well they have another one there that is steaming so they are going to see whats with it and go from there. Yes I have given them the ultimative that its going to be parked there if it has to stay ouside and call when its done. Also try 85k list.

 

[rsaint]

GM doesn't work that way, trust me I've been there.

GM will not provide a loaner vehicle until there is a diagnosed issue with the vehicle, if the mechanics can't find a leak there is no issue in GMs eyes and no loaner will be provided.


The problem with these small GM diesels is the small numbers of them that are sold, the mechanics aren't used to working on them and don't yet know the common trouble points to look towards. The big diesels usually get better service because at any given time there is guaranteed to be one in the service bay, the mechanics simply get more experience on them and understand where the common failure points ar

Did they also put dye in the charge air coolant system? Or are they just looking at the primary loop?

Is it possible there is road salt on the exhaust or exhaust filter? We often get a smell from my wife's diesel Colorado when the exhaust is hot, but I've attributed it to the road salt baking on the exhaust.

The other item to note is the 3.0 runs higher coolant temperatures than most engines, which will pressure up the cooling system and make a small leak more pronounced. It might be a worth while effort to look at the seals on the reservoir caps, maybe the vent is puking a small amount causing the smell.

We put a new cap on and same smell. Not sure they never put dye in def cooling system, they are only doing what GM requests.

 

[snoflake]

My boat heater always smell like anti-freeze when I turn the heater on. Its a 2012, and I have never been able to locate the leak.