whaddyathink?? [Antifreeze smell]

[Diamondhead]

From time to time when I ride my '10 I can faintly smell anti-freeze. Yet see no signs of a leak or source. Any ideas? Thanx

[VirginiaJim]

There's a seepage somewhere.  If it's under warranty take it in.  If not, you'll have to pull plastics to check all the hose clamps.  I think we've had some get loose in the past.

[Diamondhead]

Thanx Jim...I will monitor my coolant level closely until my next service...just thought or hoped there was something common in this situation.

[RickC14]

From time to time when I ride my '10 I can faintly smell anti-freeze. Yet see no signs of a leak or source. Any ideas? Thanx

So you checked all the all the hoses and the water pump?

[gPink]

Are you sure it's antifreeze that you smell?

[Rembrant]

From time to time when I ride my '10 I can faintly smell anti-freeze. Yet see no signs of a leak or source. Any ideas? Thanx

If you happen to be in traffic when you smell it, then it's probably somebody else...lol. I've gotten whiffs of antifreeze before, only to realize it's some other pile of junk in front of me, or next to me, etc...lol.

Otherwise, my vote is for loose rad hose clamps. This happens all the time...I've had to go over many Kawi's and re-tighten all of the hose clamps. If one of them is weeping/leaking, you'll see it...there will be a build-up of white/greenish crust/residue.

Next up would be the water pump...but I doubt it. If a water pump is leaking badly enough that you could smell it, then it should be dripping on the floor/ground as well imho.

Rem

[AZ-ZG]

You can also get funky smells the next day after riding in the rain.   

Last time I had the sweet smell a couple clamps had become loose, but not to the point of visual confirmation.
I was changing the coolant so all tupperware was off and checked the clamps.
This was on an '09 at about 60k. 

Never noticed a significant drop in coolant level and I smelled it for months.
OK, maybe a year?......

[elp_jc]

Check your coolant reservoir. Doubt it'll be above the 'max' line, but if any overflow occurs, the stock routing of the hoses dumps that coolant onto the inner lower fairing (I rerouted mine to drip on the pavement), there goes your smell. Your thermostat could be getting stuck, forcing the reservoir to overflow. Unlikely, but check it now, and check it with engine fully hot. Good luck.

[Diamondhead]

Thanx for all the input..found one hose  with white crystals on the end...not heavy..but most likely the culprit

[tomp]

Thanx for all the input..found one hose  with white crystals on the end...not heavy..but most likely the culprit

Bet you are right.  Every Kawi I've owned except for the C14 had loose clamps and presented crystals or green stains around the hose connected locations. 

[RBX QB]

If you happen to be in traffic when you smell it, then it's probably somebody else...

I hate that part of City riding... There's a metal fab shop nearby, and sometimes I get that cutting/welding smell and freak out, thinking my bike is gonna fall apart, or explode.

Also, Washington is a "legal" state now, and I swear I've gotten a contact high from a car in front of me. Okay, not quite THAT bad, but it was definitely strong.

Also also... I had a cat mark my headers every night at the place I used to live (open carport). That's an interesting smell as it burns off.

[maxtog]

Bet you are right.  Every Kawi I've owned except for the C14 had loose clamps and presented crystals or green stains around the hose connected locations.

When my bike was brand new I had to take it back to the dealer because it was dripping antifreeze on the ground- loose clamp.  Not sure if it was part of the "dealer assembly" process or not, but I assume it was (along with the headlights pointed in the ground, the loose battery connectors, and the misinflated tires).

[tomp]

I hate that part of City riding... There's a metal fab shop nearby, and sometimes I get that cutting/welding smell and freak out, thinking my bike is gonna fall apart, or explode.

Also, Washington is a "legal" state now, and I swear I've gotten a contact high from a car in front of me. Okay, not quite THAT bad, but it was definitely strong.

Also also... I had a cat mark my headers every night at the place I used to live (open carport). That's an interesting smell as it burns off.

  What cat urine does to chrome is very destructive.  Ruined, through heavy corroding and rusting, a set of wheels and spokes.  Never knew cats could pee so high...  tp

[AlbertaDoug]

When my bike was brand new I had to take it back to the dealer because it was dripping antifreeze on the ground- loose clamp.  Not sure if it was part of the "dealer assembly" process or not, but I assume it was (along with the headlights pointed in the ground, the loose battery connectors, and the misinflated tires).

Max we must have had the same tech build our bikes.
Same issue with the clamp as well, easy enough to fix myself but I had a dealership fix it just because.