I can smell coolant when engine gets hot and I'm constantly having to top it up but there are never any leaks/puddles around the car

If you're going through 1/2 gallon every few weeks - you've got a leak. Since you smell it from the heater vents - it may very well be the heater core ($$$) that is leaking. Usually, you'll notice that the windows will fog up heavily as the coolant is very hot / steamy once the engine has warmed up fully.

Look for coolant puddles under the truck to get an idea as to where it is leaking from. If closer to the front bumper - it's probably not the heater core - if closer to the firewall - it could be the heater core.

If you ran a pressure check and it held pressure for 5-15 minutes then that should be good. If the pressure test failed then look around the engine water pump, the coolant hoses, by the freeze plugs on the side of the engine block, around the intake manifold where it bolts to the head(s), and where the head gasket is between the head and engine block just to name a few. Start the engine up from cold and check the radiator cap to see if it has pressure in the coolant system before it warms up (approx. 5-15 minutes). If it hisses when you open up the radiator cap and/or is bubbling thru the radiator/reservoir(may need to raise the engine speed to see the bubbles) it probably has an internal leak like a bad head gasket and that is why you do not see the coolant leaking (it is being burned up inside of the engine). On the other hand if it smells hot then it most likely has a leak on the engine and that is what you are smelling.

the water pump is leaking or the hoses/engine gasket--keep watch of temp gauge and carry coolant/water with u--add it to resevoir only so udont burn urself--hav a pro look at it for free like a napa sstore--dont go to a dealer-save ur $$

the code is for coolant leak large. Check coolant level and top off.
check the oil for moisture.
pull the plugs to see if any are steam cleaned.
either one could indicate a bad head gasket or worse damaged head.
Check to see if any new hoses have been added. tighten clamps if needed.
look on engine block for any puddles where coolant could be leaking.
pressure test coolant system and check for leaks.
If you can smell coolant inside the vehicle check the heater core.
lastly have an emissions test run with the radiator cap off and at running temperature. Start vehicle with cap off to avoid spray of hot coolant. This tests head gasket and cyl head for leaks.

I'm not sure what your "ac drain tube" is, but it is possible that the coolant is what drained out the night before. This means that the coolant is hot. Hot coolant expands and will overflow if the radiator is full to begin with. Most cars provide a coolant reservoir to capture this overflow - and to which to add coolant. If your car has this reservoir, you should maintain the level for HOT or COLD (do not fill to the top)depending on whether the engine is cold or hot. If the coolant level in the reservoir is between the HOT and COLD marks, (not up to the top) and you're seeing coolant on the ground, you have a leak somehwere. A heater core that is leaking usually shows up INSIDE the car - on the floor for the front passenger - directly below the dashboard; as this is where it is located.

A puddle under the car should give an idea as to where the leak originates. Arrange to park on top of a sheet of cardboard so that any leak will drip onto it. Check it later in the day or the next morning prior to starting and driving off. If dry, reposition the cardboard under the car again, and start the engine and drive off the cardboard. Park and retrieve the cardboard and inspect for wat spots. In either case, if water is found, you can use the cardboard to approximate the location of the leak. Bear in mind that the leak could drip onto a part - and floow the part to a low point before dripping on the cardboard.

Some of the underhood A/C components will drip condensate if they are running in hot, humid conditions. This is normal. Condensate is simply water and is odorless and colorless. Coolant, on the other hand - is slightly thicker than water and is usually yellow-green or pink in color and has a slightly sweet smell. Coolant has lubricating qualities too, so it will be slippery. You will probably not be able to tell the difference between the two by looking at it is on asphalt; but touching it with fingers and looking for color & smell will.

A little coolant on the ground is nothing to worry about. Make sure that the coolant level is not dropping consistantly, and you should be ok. If it is always requiring that you add coolant, it is the sign of a leak somewhere.

Good luck!

Sounds like you have a bad coolant leak that needs addressing before major engine damage occurs. The heater wont blow hot air if the coolant level is low as the coolant heats the heater core. There could also be air locks in the hoses and core. The check engine light will come on when the level is low as the coolant temp sensor will not work corectly with low coolant or an overheated engine. sometimes there is a coolant level sensor in the system too. I sugest tracking the coolant loss asap. If this is helpfull please vote. Jeff

Sounds like it's low on coolant. Check radiator. If low on coolant, heater may not get hot & temp gauge will read hot. The leak could possibly be a coolant leak..? Anti-freeze has a distinct odor when leaking from a hot engine. If that's the case, find the leak and have it repaired.

ENGINE NOT GOING TO START IF GET TOO HOT FIRST THING I WOULD REPLACE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR PRESSURE CAP THEN ADD COOLANT UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL CORRECT THATS WHEN THERMOSTAT OPEN UP AND TOP HOSE HOT.CHECK FOR LEAKING RADIATOR HOSES CHECK TOP RADIATOR HOSE CHECK BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE.CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND THE RADIATOR LOOK DOWN BELOW COOLANTS FANS CHECK FOR LEAKS AT RADIATOR CORES OR LEAKS AT THE RADIATOR PLASTIC SIDE CONTAINERS. CHECK FOR LEAKS AT WATER PUMP WEEP HOLE AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AT THE HEATER HOSES AROUND ENGINE BLOCK TO THE HEATER CORE HOSES. THERE IS A REASON CAR OVERHEAT.IF CAR OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING YOU HAVE FAULTY THERMOSTAT OR LEAKING OUT COOLANT OR BLOWN HEAD GASKET.IF ENGINE OVER HEAT WHILE SITTING DURING A LONG IDLING PERIOD.YOU COULD HAVE FAULTY COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR OR FAULTY COOLING FAN FUSE OR RELAY.HOT WIRE COOLANT TO SEE IF IT RUNS IF NO REPLACE FAN MOTOR. IF YES FAN MOTOR COULD HAVE FAULTY WIRE OR PCM FAILURE. CHECK ENGINE CRANKCASE IF OIL LOOKS LIKE MILK SHAKE ENGINE HEAD GASKET LEAKING.

Subie's power steering resivoir is mounted on top of the engine and are notorious for leaking onto the top of the engine and puddling on top of the head. Once the engine reaches normal op temp, it burns the puddle of fluid and produces the burnt oil smell and sometimes a bit of smoke coming out from under the hood. I have driven my legacy like this for thousands of miles. You can either fix/replace the reservoir, or just top off the fluid (dextron 3 or 4 ATF) and clean the pooled fluid off the top of the engine at the car wash. Hope this helps!

sounds like you got a heater core leak,the heater core is what the coolant flows thru into your heater box in your dash to allow you to have heat,sounds like the core is leaking,by the smell and the low coolant i would say it is leaking, youll need to replace it before it blows out, you dont need 2 gallon of 200 degree coolant flowing into your car,,,