I'm getting coolant smell after warm up during idle. I'm not overheating but am losing small amounts of coolant. The smell is not there while driving. I'm assuming that I've got weapage somewhere. A cursory look at hoses, radiator and under the dash board failed to locate any signs of a leak. I'm not getting white smoke through the tailpipe. I know there are many possibilities to consider: water pump, heater core, radiator. What other possibilities may there be and how would I find the exact problem? Thanks.

What vehicle?

 

Is the smell in the car or outside?

Maybe the car overheats when you shut it off (boils over out of overflow) and leaks onto the exhaust manifild and then burns off during start-up.

 

Hmm....

I have a 1996 Subaru Legacy LSi.

Before starting the car in the morning, look around your headgaskets. There could be leak of coolant from the system, straight out of the engine. You won't be able to find it on warm engine since the coolant will evaporate. Well, if you leak for a long time, you will get crusty deposits that are visible on a warm engine.