MachoMachoMan B

Hello. I own a 2002 Honda Civic LX. 120 000 kms.















Problem is that I had a new thermostat and radiator installed. I was not getting consistant heat from the vents. So, I took the car to a mechanic and the thermostat was replaced as well as the radiator. However, I just noticed that when I arrived home, the engine was steaming a little bit for about 25 seconds and there was a sweet smell. What is this? My mechanic replaced the radiator and thermostat. he told me that this would solve the problem.

zonolo2000

It is quite possible that while filling the radiator with coolant, he may have spilled some outside the fill hole and it sat in the radiator core. After warming up the system the radiator got hot and the coolant on the outside of the radiator just steamed off. This would result in a sweet smell as well. If it still smells like that after 15 miles or so, then you may still have a problem.

Josh J

Most of the time, when working on a car, a sweet smell indicates a coolant leak. Chances are the that your radiator wasn't properly installed. Check your fluids and bring it into a mechanic to be fixed.