anti freeze smell

[slider]

after she has sat for a week or so and then ridden I can detect a anti freeze smell when she gets good and warmed up I have dhecked but do not see any leaks and the level appears to stay the same,anyone else ever had this problem or am I crazy and my mind going out on me??

[Wewaman]

I had this one time after washing the bike,  apparently I moved the radiator cap ever so slightly when washing, just tightened the cap.   Might be something to check.
Wewa

[Gavin_Sons]

Check the hose on top of the thermostat mine is leaking from there again. And it decided to leak out of the hose on the bottom of the radiator now also. I need a new hose clamp for that one as this one will not tighten up anymore. It gets tight then slips and is loose again. That will give me something to do tomorrow.

[PAVALKER]

Snug up the hose clamps.  My VTX and Valkyrie both did this when coming out of a cold winter.  If you make sure the hose clamps are snugged up.... It should go away.  But....to play it safe, remove and clean the seal on the radiator cap as well.

[R J]

Be sure to remove the little screw in the radiator cap before ya attempt to take it off.

[Motorider]

Now and then I can also smell anti-freeze on my I/S. Usually while at a stop light. I can`t find a leak and the reservoir doesn't seem any lower. I replaced the radiator cap and all hoses with new ones and still have the same issue. Since there is nothing left to check or replace. I have decided to live with it and just keep watching for evidence of a problem. If you figure it out, let us know what it was.

[slider]

  have checked the clamps,cleaned and retightened cap and have done more looking,think it maybe a tiny pin hole in the radiator its self  ...for now will just keep an eye on things  thanks for all suggestions

[Chrisj CMA]

Its fairly normal to smell coolant at the beginning of a ride and then the smell dissipates...this is probably caused by the little weird o-rings in the water tubes being a old and dry and allowing a mist of a leak until it warms up.

The other time a coolant smell is normal is if you had spilled a little on the radiator during filling....it takes a long time for that smell to go away and in that instance it would smell worse as it heated up.

If you have a leak at a hose clamp it will keep getting worse until you see fluid dripping or pooling on top of the engine

[MarkT]

Instal| Evans coolant.  That does several things:  1) Evans will lower your coolant system pressure to near zero as it's boiling point is about 400°.  It doesn't create pressure.  2)  Evans STINKS.  If there's any leak at all you'll smell it.  This is a good thing - Evans is expensive - you don't want it leaking.  3) Evans is PERMANENT coolant.  You never change it again.  In fact, to sell the bike, some owners first remove the coolant and save it for their next bike.  Put the cheap stuff in. 3) Evans preserves the innards of your engine.  In particular the aluminum.  Absolutely does not cause corrosion.  

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/extras/car-care/waterless-engine-coolant/index.shtml

[deadwood]

Had the same smell for awhile after a coolant change. Took PAVALKERs advice and cleaned the seal on the cap today. Also lightly sanded the mating sealing surface on the radiator neck.

Smell is gone. Thanks PAVAKER.

Snug up the hose clamps.  My VTX and Valkyrie both did this when coming out of a cold winter.  If you make sure the hose clamps are snugged up.... It should go away.  But....to play it safe, remove and clean the seal on the radiator cap as well.

[Patrick]

Sometime folks forget the radiator cap set screw and that can tear the solder joint and the neck. Also at times the radiator cap retainer ' tits' can be bent up/in just a tad.

[MarkT]

Sometime folks forget the radiator cap set screw and that can tear the solder joint and the neck. Also at times the radiator cap retainer ' tits' can be bent up/in just a tad.

I wouldn't bend them (speaking as a metal worker). You might bend the metal at the seal enough to cause a leak. I think I removed them some years ago with a small abrasive wheel on a Dremel.