I've got a '92 4x4 with a 5.0 and a manual transmission. I'm smelling anti-freeze in the cab all of the time, not just when the heat is on. It's not leaking anywhere that I can see. I've checked the floor on the passenger side for possible heater core leakage and all under the hood. I can't find a leak anywhere and the guage shows normal. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

Heater core going bad.

 

I agree with subford, it's just your heater core hasn't decided to dump all of it in the cab yet.

 

Thanks guys. Okay then, I'll go ahead and replace it before I get stuck somewhere. I'm guessing the dash has to come out.

 

Yep...you got it. Not a fun job, but it's peanuts compared to what has to be done on some newer cars.

If you smell antifreeze, get on replacing that cooler pronto. The smell means it's slowly leaking a tiny bit, and it can "go" at any time. "Go" as in dump your radiator contents into your cab.

 

I had this same problem on my Corvette. For a long time I would get just a hint of a coolant smell every now and then. Eventually it got to the point where when I used the defroster it would spray the ever so slightest coolant mist on my windshield, thus making it fog up more!

I changed it before it puked completely and it was not a fun job. I imagine the truck has to be easier than the Vette though!

 

Thanks to everyone for the info. -Al