To the individual interested in automobile leaks....
Engine coolant can leak out of a car when a hole is present in the Water Coolant System that is responsible for maintaining engine block temperatures, which causes a loss of fluid commonly called antifreeze. Our radiators and water pumps on cars are supposed to be closed-systems. Since engine coolant is a liquid, all liquids are subject to the forces of gravity with any leak observed at the bottom of a car from the liquid sticking to the metal parts around the hole and dripping from the lowest part of the component that is damaged, corroded, or broke open leaking, including the water hoses.
A radiator that is on an old car can leak normally from the buildup of corrosion, causing rust reducing material strength.
If the leak is from an old car, the most likely cause is Environmental.
In Quality Engineering, this is one of about five (5) basic categories supporting our understanding of failure modes....
Incidentally, my technical background includes about 20% of my time of over twenty (21) years in Problem Solving for the automotive industry with about twelve (12) years of that time, including a certification by a professional organization as a Certified Quality Engineer.
You may have a leak of coolant. Take your car to a shop and tell them you are smelling coolant and may have a leak.
Some foreign car makers use a purple colored anti-freeze, so my guess would be you have an coolant leak.
The car could be overheating or have a coolant leak.
For radiator leaks look for the following signs: The car will overheat Coolant level will frequently drop Pool of coolant or water under the car radiator Obvious leak noted from radiator on starting the car Faulty radiator cap causing the leak
Probably a coolant leak.
There are a few reasons why a 97 Lincoln Town car might have a coolant leak. One would be due to a split or broken hose. Another reason is due to a crack or leak in the block, or it could be caused by the radiator cap leaking.
there might be a leak some where in a coolant line. or maybe you have a leak in your radiator.
The water you see under the car when the air conditioner is running is condensation. If you are leaking antifreeze then you need to pressure test the system and repair the leak.
If the drain plug under the evaporator coil is plugged up it will cause condensation to leak into the car. If the heater core is bad it will allow coolant to leak into the car. If the leak is warm and smells sweet it is the heater coil.
You probably have a coolant leak. http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=S001&UserAction=viewSimpleDiagInfo&Parameters=info answer The coolant is most likely leaking onto the engine of your car, causing the white smoke.
You normally smell the antifreeze so open the hood and look for a leak before you see it big time running out from under your car.
Check to see if you really have a leak or just loss of fluid due to evaporation. Place some cardboard under your car overnight and see if you have any wetness or signs of dripping, after, of course, you have first refilled your coolant system.