low temperature and smell of coolant

**lilangel** · 8th November 2010, 22:14

not sure what exactly could the problem be, the temperature suddenly started to sit at around 80 at all times, rather than 90, and theres a definate smell of coolant coming through the aircon

anyone knows what this is? its a 3.2 v6, thnx

**Big Sig** · 8th November 2010, 22:47

Thermostat stuck open? What's the coolant level like? Has it dropped? Could well be the oil cooler seals. The cooler sits in the middle of the vee so it's not that easy to see and check for leaks.

Mine did this when I first had it. No leaks but the thermostat was ******ed.

**gtr1000** · 8th November 2010, 23:49

Pressure test the cooling system. Could be that you've got a leak, albeit a small one, and the smell of coolant is been drawn in from the engine bay.

**Celes** · 9th November 2010, 00:03

I have the same problem, but with a 2.2DTi. I can smell coolant when I step out of the car...

**lilangel** · 9th November 2010, 09:28

thanks for the suggestions, will try to get it looked at today, BigSig, is the oil cooler an engine apart £700 quid job? i am pretty sure i had that changed less than a year ago, could that go again?

cheers

**ed taylor** · 9th November 2010, 09:34

Originally Posted by lilangel

thanks for the suggestions, will try to get it looked at today, BigSig, is the oil cooler an engine apart £700 quid job? i am pretty sure i had that changed less than a year ago, could that go again?

cheers

The oil cooler sit in between the Two Vees" of the engine. All the top of the engine needs to be removed to get to it I belive. A bit of a labour intensive job.

**lilangel** · 9th November 2010, 09:38

that would be it then, i had that changed less than a year ago. i think the thermostat, as BigSig said happend to him seems like the answer, just rang a garage and hopefully get it sorted soon, thanks

**Deztroyer** · 9th November 2010, 09:50

also give David A.K.A Judas a shout - he was recently having similar issues

**lilangel** · 9th November 2010, 10:08

Think its deffo the thermostat, as the needle doesn't sit at 80, it barely moves of cold

**ed taylor** · 9th November 2010, 10:55

Originally Posted by lilangel

Think its deffo the thermostat, as the needle doesn't sit at 80, it barely moves of cold

Sounds like it might be, then. Mine moves from cold up to 90/100 then down to 85, back up tp 90 or so if in traffic, when the fans cut in it goes back to around 85.