Strange coolant issue

[DADSMUSTANG]

I have a 2015 Mustang GT premium with a Whipple supercharger stage one. The shop I take it to and the shop that installed it has not found an issue and we are all scratching our heads to what it is. I decided not to go with the cooling fans and went with the large intercooler on the Whipple and I have a Mishimoto radiator and expansion tank. I have talked to Whipple and to MishiMoto. They told me maybe because increased pressure it’s coming out the cap and bleeding off and I need to find the proper level when I fill the expansion tank. I filled it to the line that it says it needs to be filled, but every now and then when I open up the hood, I can smell a little bit of coolant. The level is not dropping significantly very very small and I’ve been going back-and-forth on this for about a year. Has anyone else had this problem? Whipple says because of the increased pressure maybe the level on the expansion tank needs to be a little below what they’re recommending.
And I need to find that sweet spot. MishiMoto is concurring with this but again I’m trying to find out if anyone’s had this problem. I don’t want go back to the stock expansion tank. Whipple doesn’t recommend adding a different cap. The stock cap for Mustang should be enough. Conflicting information back-and-forth one is telling me to go to a different radiator cap. Then Whipple keeps saying no. Like I said it’s not very much. I think the most I’ve ever had to put in just under a cup. I know thats not much but I’ve been around cars since the mid 70s and nine in my late 50s. I haven’t had any real spikes in temperature, but the smell of coolant when I open up the hood after I run it for a little while, always gets me a little paranoid.
One group is saying don’t worry make sure you find the right level it might take a while. One group is saying It might be a bubble still stuck in there and both are saying, don’t worry we see no evidence of any issues. I do see evidence of small venting from the radiator cap. Just to make sure I went to ford and bought a brand new one. Just so I can eliminate that issue. I was just hoping for some help here. This is my third mustang and my first S550.

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[2021CSGTJH12]

Modern coolant has a strong odor, so it doesn’t take much. A few drops evaporating on a hot engine component can produce a noticeable smell when you open the hood.

Considering the Whipple setup and aftermarket cooling components, I think the most likely explanation is exactly what Whipple and Mishimoto suggested: the system is occasionally venting a tiny amount of coolant as it finds its operating level. Drivers it for a few weeks and see if the level drops. It should stabilize itself.

 

[sk47]

Modern coolant has a strong odor, so it doesn’t take much. A few drops evaporating on a hot engine component can produce a noticeable smell when you open the hood.

Hello; If you are smelling coolant and also losing coolant logic suggests a coolant loss.

Burping a coolant system ought not take weeks. if you do suspect an air pocket find a procedure for getting the air out. Sometimes there are bolts you can open to let air out. I have not done a newer Mustang so cannot say.

I do not quite follow the issue with aftermarket cooling parts. Are you questioning the placement relative to the top of the radiator?

I decided not to go with the cooling fans and went with the large intercooler on the Whipple and I have a Mishimoto radiator and expansion tank.

Hello; Two things come to mind. One is the idea an intercooler somehow means cooling fans are not needed. The two do separate things.
An intercooler helps cool down compressed air. If you have an air compressor at home try this. I open the drain cock on my compressor after a days use to let the moisture out. So I start it cold & empty. The tank is cool to the touch. When it gets to 150 PSI and first shuts off the tank is hot. what happens is the 30 gallon tank at 150 PSI now holds the air which moments before was around nine times that volume. Around 265 gallons at 150 PSI. If that 265 gallons of air was at a uniform 75 degrees F then that heat energy is concentrated into a smaller space. The compression of the air concentrates the heat.
Any supercharger or turb charger does the same to incoming air. Concentrates the heat as well as compresses the air. So, the compressed air is run thru an intercooler in hopes of pulling away some of the heat before the air gets into the intake. Cooler air helps make power inside the engine.

Think about where the radiator is located. It is behind the AC condenser coil. That AC coil is dumping all the heat the AC pulls out of the interior of the car which passes to the radiator.
If that supercharger intercooler is in front of the radiator it is also sending extra heat into the radiator. My point is having extra cooling fans for a radiator seems a good idea.
In addition to the above the added HP from the supercharger makes more heat from more intense combustion.

Burn more to make more HP and you get more heat. What is a bit confusing is you report no high temperature readings.

On my pickup I have had two very slow coolant leaks. No puddles on the ground but a hot coolant smell and a few ounces of coolant loss over months. I finally pulled the water pump and found a compromised O ring seal between the WP & the block. New O ring and it was fixed.
My current leak is at the juncture of a complicated coolant hose. Just a seep but no drip so no hot smell. I will get a new (a ridiculously expensive coolant hose) next coolant change.

 

[horsepower addiction]

There shouldn’t be any extra pressure in the system unless you’re cooling system isn’t keeping up. Pressure should be exactly the same as stock. If temps are higher than normal find out why. If you over fill it some coolant will leak out

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