Why is it that my car smells like it's overheating but my temperature gauge says that it's not?

Question

I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima with a hundred and sixty-eight thousand miles on it. The water pump works fine but for some reason everytime I get out of my car it smells like it's overheating and yet my temperature gauge says it's not. When I start my car in the morning the temperature gauge was smoothie rise but then stops at the Middle Point and never goes any higher what could causes or what could cause the smell out of it overheating. The only reason I know what it smells like when a car overheats is because I actually blew an engine once and that's the exact same smell. Thanks one more thing the radiator is also fine.

John Canon · Answer

It could be that your catalytic converter is overheating, from misfire or rich condition. Engine misfire can be caused by weak spark which might not set a code. Or you could have a sluggish oxygen sensor which might set a code.
Use a vacuum cleaner hose as a sniffer. Stop the car out of the wind, lie down beside the car and extend the hose toward the cat while sniffing the other end.

Neil Holmes · Answer

You may have water leaking from the head gasket onto the exhaust manifold (header).  Will immediately vaporise and cause the smell.
It's the coolant in the system that smells (antifreeze)

Why is it that my car smells like it's overheating but my temperature gauge says that it's not?

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