SMELLING ANTIFREEZE??

[whitestar16]

Thanks. I have been reading voraciously on this specific vehicle ( since I just bought one) and all sorts of threads online.

based on the definition as follows and diagrams I have been looking at - I understand what you are saying:

A cylinder head sliced in half showing the intake and exhaust valves, intake and exhaust ports, coolant passages, cams, tappets and valve springs.

So basically a cracked head could easily allow for a mixture of coolant, oil, and exhaust to all go into the wrong channels, with your result. Alternatively, I think a poorly installed head gasket ( or ill machined one) might cause the same thing. More likely, heat stress on the head gasket will cause seal failure and head gasket deformation, leading to major problems over time.

My opinion, having driven a CVT from a different manufacturer for the past four years, is that the car is too heavy and the engine too heat generating under commonly used conditions by a fairly substantial number of drivers to operate over time without a good chance of failure, certainly at the head gasket level, with further damage following. ( which may have occurred in your case).

From one of the posts above ( and certainly the most telling) - Nissan has redesigned the head gasket for the 2009 and some 2010 models ( vehicles) as well. I suspect they have moved from Aluminum with Teflon coating to an iron frame, but this is just a guess.

What needs to happen here, frankly, is that for those of us with the current CVT, testing of the head gasket should be mandatory at the first oil change, and Nissan has got to ensure that service garages can competently replace the head gaskets without causing further problems. This will save them a Lot of money by decreasing the volume of CVTs they would otherwise need to replace.

In 2011, if their CVT or engine block relies on air cooling, that needs to be reworked to a water cooled engine/transmission. There is NO option on this in my opinion ( if the engine isn't water cooled already - I don't know). A CVT in a 4000 lb vehicle is a bit of a trick, and towing stuff, air cooling, and high RPMs due to frequent hills will cause failure at various levels ( especially the head gasket) as it stands. I do think they actually have a very good engine - its just not quite where it needs to be yet, and they have to test parts in single and in the engine model to failure under various load and temperature conditions, with a very stiff standard before allowing anything in their CVT engines to go into production models.

This proactive approach will serve them well - I do think they might be however, instructing dealerships on documenting things such as owners failing to do oil changes at 3750 miles and the like, given that I got a phone call scheduling my oil change for June 16, 2010, for a car I won't be using all that much ( perhaps 5000 miles per year) in highway driving with a manual that I thought recommended oil changes at 7500 miles for normal driving. (I don't consider beltway and interstate driving to be severe conditions).

I'd like to get a good discussion going on this.

I totally dig the car though-- it's pretty cool. Just need to cool that engine off a bit during use. cars don't usually have burning smells when new in my experience like this one that everyone talks about.
Modified by whitestar16 at 12:12 AM 3/21/2010

[whitestar16]

Oh by the way - coolant sealant should NEVER go into this type of vehicle in my opinion--chunks of that stuff breaking off could get stuck in all kinds of places and you could easily get the exact same type of scenario that you have. Geez.

A tech/mechanic wouldn't even have to screw up a repair if chunks of that stuff are breaking off and getting stuck somewhere else.

[nafddur]

I do think they might be however, instructing dealerships on documenting things such as owners failing to do oil changes at 3750 miles and the like, given that I got a phone call scheduling my oil change for June 16, 2010, for a car I won't be using all that much ( perhaps 5000 miles per year) in highway driving with a manual that I thought recommended oil changes at 7500 miles for normal driving.Modified by whitestar16 at 12:12 AM 3/21/2010

The correct oil change interval (per the FSM) for normal - ie non-severe - driving IS 7500 miles. Only a fool (IMHO, of course) would subject a modified Altima with a CVT to severe driving conditions and expect it to hold up well. Of course, to continue to sell Muranos Nissan will never admit that.

Those of us continuing to treat our Mos as the cars they are, are having year after year of trouble free service (knock on wood).

[riderman]

Oh by the way - coolant sealant should NEVER go into this type of vehicle in my opinion--chunks of that stuff breaking off could get stuck in all kinds of places and you could easily get the exact same type of scenario that you have. Geez.

A tech/mechanic wouldn't even have to screw up a repair if chunks of that stuff are breaking off and getting stuck somewhere else.

The 13 years as a co-worker/friend/mechanic threw my wife under the bus. As I stated earlier, he told my wife that he put coolant sealer in the car after the head gasket replacement, as he said was common practice for Nissan. When my wife told her boss, and both she and the mechanic were together, this no ball MF'er essentially called my wife a lier, stating that he didnt put sealer in the car. HMMM, my oil sample claims coolant sealer in the oil..The dealer told us to "drive it". I'm trying to trade it in on a 2010, if not, it will be driven to West by god VA for a school trip for our daughter. If it locks up in the middle of nowhere West Viriginia on I64, then what? GRRR


Modified by riderman at 12:47 AM 3/28/2010

[Dstromb232]

I have a 2009 nissan maxima with antifreeze smell issue too. Had a pressure check and there was no leak.

Sometimes when I go through a drive through and roll down window i get a strong anti freeze smell. And

when I put it in my garage I can smell it too.

Just wonder if any one else has the same problem and had the issue fixed to tell mne what it was.

I just have 6000mi on the car.

[monoptn]

Update: First, a summary. I bought my 2009 Murano used, and at about 27,000 miles or so, and I kept smelling antifreeze. I took it in, they pressure tested it, and found a head leaking (warped or cracked, was never really made clear to me). Motor dropped, head replaced, then transmission wouldn't work right at the shop. They ordered new transmission, it was cracked, got another one, installed it, and I got the Murano back after about 26 days. Stuff happens, I understand. ALl that was Jan, 2010.

Antifreeze smell went away, but recently I noticed it again. Before I could get it back in shop, check engine light came on while wife was on a trip. Some kind of sensor, which they replaced. Also pressure tested, found no leaks, but they did replace the radiator cap, saying it appeared to be leaking. All that was at about 35,500 miles.

Today, I took it in because I have a ticking/rattling noise from the passenger side of the motor.....sounded to me like the tensioner pulley, or perhaps water pump. It's the alternator, and an $800 repair because now my car is at 37,000 miles, and the warranty is up on that. I said forget it, paid my $100 inspection fee, and brought it home. Service manager was out of town, so I'll just call him Monday and see if he thinks Nissan is willing to help me. The service writer didn't seem to think so, and I didn't feel like arguing today. I also didn't even address the antifreeze smell. I smell it when I pull up at a drivein and roll the window down. Can't smell it under the hood.

Been looking at Ford Edges online....pretty nice looking ride! I have a feeling I've owned my second Nissan - first and last.

[monoptn]

Anybody know the difference in the alternator on an 07 vs an 09? The 07s are everywhere, and dirt cheap. The 09s are $300+ and available only through Nissan, unless you buy a reman.

[telliash24]

I have a 2009 Nissan Murano LE, also and I smell anti-freeze tooo! Bought the car brand-new and didn't smell it in the beginning, have about 20,000 miles on it and now I smell the anti-freeze all the time, even had other people mention the smell to me! Contacted my local dealer about it and of course they have no service bulletins on this problem....made a complaint, read the article about the head gasket issues and now Im alittle more concerned. Will keep posted with any outcomes!
Ashley

[telliash24]

Well, after dealing with the anti-freeze smell for several months now, I finally got it into the dealer today (Rothrock) and had them look at it, of course they told me when I dropped it off it was probably just a leaky hose. Got the phone call alittle bit ago that indeed it was BOTH head gaskets leaking, and they will need to be replaced. They had to order them so they tell me its safe to drive the car until next Monday when they scheduled me in for head gasket replacement.
Now Im a little worried, cause yes this time the are covering it under warranty, but am I gonna have leaky head gaskets every 30K miles???? Im seriously considering purchasing the extended warranty, but I think Nissan should cover it for me!!!


Ashley Ortelli

[muranoproud]

I'm so glad I came upon this site. I'm on here because my steering column motor is burnt out and I only have 19,000 miles on my "brand new" one year old Murano LE AWD. But also, since I bought the car, I noticed a weird anti-freeze smell. In fact, after driving the car with the AC on, my clothes smell like it, too.
Time to go to the dealer.

[Carstoday1]

My 2013 Murano has exactly the same anti freeze smell. The dealer can't find anything. I have had it in 5 times & have 20,000 miles. It smells occationally & I smell it as I get of driver side, but my wife doesn't notice it from passenger side. Can't really isolate it when looking under the hood. Very frustrating. The cap on overflow is a simple plastic cap with a vent hole down the inside. Could the smell being coming from there ?

[seldomseen]

If you only smell the coolant on when you're standing outside beside/in front of the engine, and your coolant level is correct, and your car isn't overheating, and there's no sign of coolant leaks, there's nothing to worry about. This is common with Altimas/Maximas too --- the smell is most likely due to Nissan's OEM coolant mix. You can try using a different coolant brand if the smell is annoying you to much --- just ensure the aftermarket coolant is within the OEM required specifications to ensure properly cooling of your car's engine.