If you lift the heater assembly up, it will allow you to wipe out the
spilled antifreeze underneath it.  It's tough to totally clean everywhere
while everything is still installed.  The insulation around it may be
retaining some of the smelly liquid, also.
  It will go away eventually, if the leak is stopped, but it may take quite
a while.

Mike B.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Allan Streib" <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 4:57 PM
Subject: Continued "anti-freeze" smell from rear heater

>I removed my rear heater core and pressure tested it for leaks.  Found
> none in the core itself but the O-ring between the valve and the core
> was leaking.  Replaced that, and cleaned everything.
>
> I'm still getting some anti-freeze odor from the rear heater when it's
> on.  Thinking it's perhaps in the carpet in that area and being drawn
> into the airstream.  I did clean the carpet with a extraction-type
> cleaner but would imagine that it would be pretty difficult to totally
> remove all traces of old coolant that may have soaked in over the years.
>
> Allan
> --
> 1991 Vanagon GL.