I recently replaced the Water Pump and I have spilled alot of antifreeze over the motor even since I have done it. I refilled it to full, drove it, fluid level was down again so I refilled it and it was almost like the whole radiator was empty... this time I also filled the resivior up... drove it... checked, still full... checked again 2 days later... still full... checked resivior - still full... ....well I check it this morning.. it was about half a cup low... Refilled it, the resivior wasn't low but I put more in anyway. The reason I'm concerned is because the engine bay ALWAYS reeks of antifreeze after it's been running. I havn't beenable to wash the motor since I filled it up with coolant due to extremely strict water restrictions in my town (we're in Drought) so I can't tell if it's because left over antifreeze from when filled it up last from the water pump change or if it's really leaking. I have checked under the car both when it's off, and running at operating temperatures and I can't find the slightest drip of coolant, even on the ground when and where I park. I'm hoping it's just me or maybe it wasn't full. I have felt around the gasket areas, and the thermostat areas and it's not even damp - used my fingers to smell and I don't smell antifreeze... Ideas?

there was probably air still in the lines somewhere and the air made it through to the point where it seemed like you were losing coolant. maybe air up by the heater core or something.

if you did it properly.. scrape off all of old gasket, new gasket, gasket sealer, tighten everything properly, etc. I wouldn't worry about it, really. the smell is probably because of the spilt coolant.. and if it is leaking maybe you can't find leaks because it just evaporates quickly.

Just check it half a month / a month later and if everything is good, don't worry any more

The smell of glycol should go away - it shouldn't linger after you have solved a leak. If you have grossly over filled your reservoir, you will be smelling the antifreeze for quite some time as the coolant expands more than you might think when the engine gets hot. A semi sealed cooling system will push coolant back and forth from the radiator to the expansion tank unless your radiator cap is bad; something else I would check into - they're quite inexpensive. Your drought has got to be one of the worst things ever down there; you have my sympathy.

Mine used to smell like coolant really bad in the summer but i saw zero leaks, turned out my radiator cap was bad. Make sure you get all of the air out of the system too, that could explain the different coolant levels you're getting.