Coolant smell and loss of coolant; engine running too warm?

[AJP turbo]

Little update: Talked to the dealer, and he said he wouldn't be able to do anything unless the idiot gauge on the dash gets to the red. I REALLY don't want to wait until that occurs...220 is too hot @SHOdded would you be able to confirm the 3.5 EB Flex fan activation? In theory it has the 190* stat.

Give me your strategy and i will try to look tonight....many stock tunes have the fans set to come on full at 224 and nothing below that

[Primalzer]

Little update: Talked to the dealer, and he said he wouldn't be able to do anything unless the idiot gauge on the dash gets to the red. I REALLY don't want to wait until that occurs...220 is too hot @SHOdded would you be able to confirm the 3.5 EB Flex fan activation? In theory it has the 190* stat.

Give me your strategy and i will try to look tonight....many stock tunes have the fans set to come on full at 224 and nothing below that

Pardon my ignorance, what is the strategy and how do I get it to you...? Haha, fairly new to the EcoBoost realm

[TopherSho]

So I had the car in for some brake system work at the dealer a week or so back. I had them take a look at the cooling system as after a longer drive, I get the distinct smell of coolant. Now the fluid level, when taken to the dealer was on the low side; at the bottom-most acceptable cold level, when warm. They topped it off, but I'm still getting the smell. I've also noticed that the car runs pretty warm, especially in traffic. I have an Ultragauge, and consistently see 220* in traffic, which seems high to me (even though it doesn't register on the dash's idiot gauge.) And it's not like I'm in warm/hot climate, it still Chicago spring, and we're still in the 40's, 50's and 60's.

Dealer did a pressure test, and the system holds pressure. Worthwhile to replace the reservoir cap?

Monitor the fluid level... the smell could be from one of the techs spilling it everywhere... it takes a long time for that smell to go away...

As the motor warms up so does the smell...

Where is the needle on the temp gauge?

A VERY long time..  I spilled maybe 1/2 a cup doing my thermostat swap.  And I still smell it after a nice alcohol/windex bath in the morning.

[Primalzer]

Little update: Talked to the dealer, and he said he wouldn't be able to do anything unless the idiot gauge on the dash gets to the red. I REALLY don't want to wait until that occurs...220 is too hot @SHOdded would you be able to confirm the 3.5 EB Flex fan activation? In theory it has the 190* stat.

Give me your strategy and i will try to look tonight....many stock tunes have the fans set to come on full at 224 and nothing below that

Pardon my ignorance, what is the strategy and how do I get it to you...? Haha, fairly new to the EcoBoost realm

OK, figured out what the strategy is, but I don't think I have any way of getting it to you, without a tuner, correct?

In other news, threw on a new rad/expansion tank cap.

[SHOdded]

Correct, need a tuning device to pull the current strategy code from the PCM.  Might be physically on the PCM or in the vicinity, but no way to know if that stategy is current.

I don't think Forscan Lite pulls that info, but I'd have to check.

Let's see how the new cap does.  The water pump does have a weep hole.  The smell might be from coolant escaping via that route.

[Primalzer]

Coolant smell is less pronounced, but temps still do creep up when the AC is not on. When keeping an eye on the temps, it does go up to about 215, and then back down to 190-195 and cycles back up. Could that be a stock 190 t-stat? I get conflicting information on what the stock temperature for the t-stat, either 190 or 180.

Also, I picked up a used LME myCal, it hasn't been "unlocked" but should it be able to pull the strategy still?

[SHOdded]

Sounds like a stock tstat to me.  I believe the cooling fans come on around 220F. 

Might want to take the bellypan off and check the waterpump weephole.  If that looks good, most likely a hose-related issue, or the radiator has a pinhole leak.  Neither of these is common at all, but maybe some work done in the past is not holding up.  Also, check the degas bottle thoroughly for cracks, as that was an issue on some Fusions in years past.

[Primalzer]

I'll be underneath hopefully tonight or tomorrow night for an oil change anyways, so I'll take a gander.

[Primalzer]

Everything looked clean underneath last night and the coolant tank level has remained steady on the high side while either cold or hot. Maybe I'm just imagining the smell.

[SHOdded]

I would keep an eye on it but not worry till some concrete evidence surfaces or symptoms get worse.