# Smells like school glue **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** smells\ **Created:** [June 3, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369 "2009-06-03T13:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tmccartney](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@tmccartney](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tmccartney)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/1 "2009-06-03T13:54:00Z")
Hi, all… I have a 1999 Ford F-150 pickup with a little over 150K miles on it. Lately, whenever I turn on the fan (not even the AC necessarily), a tangy smell like Elmer’s School Glue or caulk comes out of the vents. The mechanics at Firestone don’t recognize the smell. Any ideas? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/2 "2009-06-03T14:13:05Z")
The Engine Coolant Level Has Been Checked, Right? A leaky heater core, under the dashboard, can cause vehicle occupants to smell coolant (anti-freeze). Low coolant would indicate a problem that needs to be addressed right away. CSA ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/3 "2009-06-03T19:29:12Z")
I agree with CSA, but offer another possibility. Winter mix window wash. When I squirt mine prodigouslly (to get the BIG bugs off) and the odor migrates through the vents below the windshield I get a school-glue odor. Smell some from the bottle and compare. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/4 "2009-06-03T22:32:27Z")
Anyone ever had an evapoator leak in the A/C? Not sure what that would smell like, but that is also a possibility. ---
**Author:** ![vtcodger2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@vtcodger2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtcodger2)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/5 "2009-06-03T23:29:31Z")
I think Freons are odorless, but the oil in the A/C system would probably smell … well … oily. Coolant? I think that coolants – Ethylene glycol and Propylene glycol – are also odorless in their natural state, but are mixed with something to give them an odor. Classically, coolant has a sweet smell, but that’s not to say that it couldn’t have a different smell if the manufacturer desires. But, I’d go with the windshield washer fluid as a first guess. Easy enough to check. There’s a big container full of windshield washer fluid somewhere under the hood. Likewise the coolant. That’s probably best done at the overflow tank and with the engine cold – why ask for trouble? ---
**Author:** ![Christina\_Lehman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Christina\_Lehman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Christina_Lehman)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/6 "2020-02-29T22:09:21Z")
I am getting the same glue like smell in my XJR, not the smell of coolant. Happens whenever I start the car? ---
**Author:** ![fergusontd\_164392](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fergusontd_164392/32/19724_2.png) [@fergusontd\_164392](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fergusontd_164392)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 5:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smells-like-school-glue/31369/7 "2020-03-01T05:53:06Z")
Could be a musty smell from mold. Might try Lysol or some other type of disinfectant.