Coolant resovoir empty, smell antifreeze, no visible leak...radiator cap?

I am posting this with wishful thinking. Here is what I know:

• Resovoir tank is empty
• Smell coolant only on right side
• no exhaust issues (no sweet smell, smoke, condensation other than starting)
• I filled resovoir tank to midline while cold on center stand and ran engine until hot (about 225) and fan came on to cool around 200
• No visible dripping, seeping, bulging, or cracking on all "visible" hoses/clamps
• Nothing visible around radiator cap, but smell is strong on the right side

My theory is that the radiator cap is not fully functional and over time evaporates, but will this empty the resovoir? I have had zero problems with overheating (operating 170-180, stop/go traffing 200-220 with fan running). My oil level is unchanged and no fine bubble visible in the view window so i have a lower suspicion for head gasket issues, but not sure.

So, is it possible over the course of a year to empty the reservoir tank with a faulty radiator cap? Is this something I can get at like advance autoparts?

 

So for the troubleshooting, the reservoir stayed at the level, and a new radiator cap seems to have taken care of the strong smell.

 

Also she runs around 170 and rarely makes it above 210 now. So that fucking cap made a huge difference. The old one wasn't miserable, but had some schmutz around the bottom gasket, enough for hot fucking liquid to get around it.

 

The rad cap is all too often neglected. Schmutz is no bueno.

Glad to see you appear to have sorted it out. Its always at 170 now? Think the stock t-stat is a 170 or 172.

 

Thanks for the follow-up report on the cap.
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Pliskin: The temp does fluctuate, just cruising I am running 170-180. After some stop and go she'll get to the 210's.

 

Just in case anyone has similar issues I'll share the resolution:

I took it to the shop after I still smelled antifreeze after the cap change. They flushed and diagnosed without a leak. Then they found that the reservoir had become loose. They tightened it up and away we go.