Possible coolant leak?

2011 BMW 550I
70,000 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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TSHAWTAYLOR
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  • 1 POST
Good morning. I can smell coolant, especially when it's running idle, but I don't see coolant coming out. It also looks like there may be a little spatter of coolant under the hood, but I'm not sure if that's from my husband spilling when he adds coolant or if it's spraying from someplace. I think there may also be an oil leak because I've had to add engine oil at least every other week. Does this seem like an urgent, needs immediate resolve problem?
Oct 2, 2022 at 5:53 AM
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STRAILER
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 54,832 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Do you smell coolant inside or outside the car? If inside the car only you have a heater core that is leaking if outside a blown head gasket.

Here is a guide to help you test for a blown head gasket:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Also, you just have something like water pump going out, here is a guide to help check for that as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

Please go over these guides and report back.
Oct 3, 2022 at 10:40 AM
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