San Jose Auto Repair

One thing most car owners hope they don't have to deal with is an unexpected issue with their vehicles. When an automotive system fails, it offers some signs and symptoms. One of these signs is the smell of maple syrup when you enter the car and turn on the engine. Other people describe the smell as butterscotch or cinnamon. While it has a pleasant, sweet smell, it doesn't indicate anything sweet about your car. In fact, that sweet smell that might get you to think that someone spilled syrup in your car means that you have a leaking coolant. What is a Coolant? Car coolant, also known as antifreeze, prevents engine overheating. It also acts as grease, preventing friction between the engine's moving parts, which alleviates premature wear-n-tear of these components, including the water pump, cylinder and piston timing, and the head gasket. The coolant effectively controls engine temperatures by dissipating the heat and adds an antifreeze to the motor, ensuring the engine o ... read more