Is smelling coolant harmful?

Ethylene glycol is chemically broken down in the body into toxic compounds. It and its toxic byproducts first affect the central nervous system (CNS), then the heart, and finally the kidneys. Ethylene glycol is odorless; odor does not provide any warning of inhalation exposure to hazardous concentrations.Click to see full answer. Just so, is it bad to smell antifreeze?THE CULPRIT: Coolant containing sweet-smelling (but toxic) ethylene glycol is leaking from somewhere. It might be coming from a leaky radiator cap or the radiator itself, especially if you smell it outside the car. A strong odor inside the passenger compartment probably means a bad heater core.Secondly, why do I smell antifreeze through my vents? Smell of antifreeze could indicate a leak. If so, any thoughts about the odor coming from the heater core are well founded. It’s also possible, but less likely, that leaking coolant odors are coming in with the ventilation air from an under-hood leak. Beside this, can antifreeze fumes hurt you? It isn’t considered harmful in small amounts, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). On the other hand, ethylene glycol and methanol are hazardous and poisonous if ingested. It only takes a small amount of antifreeze to poison the human body and cause life-threatening complications.What does a coolant leak smell like? Smells like: Sweet, like Maple Syrup The coolant is easy to identify, since it’s often brightly-colored yellow or green. And they smell sweet, like candy or maple syrup. A little coolant drip can be harmless for old cars, since they will only indicate that you need to add a bit more to the reservoir.