Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition: 1  smudge(Noun) A blemish; a smear. 2  smudge(Noun) Dense smoke, such as that used for fumigation. 3  smudge(Verb) To obscure by blurring; to smear. 4  smudge(Verb) To soil or smear with dirt. 5  smudge.
This smell might mean that your coolant is leaking from somewhere like a radiator or heater hose. This kind of a problem means it's a good idea to take your car into a professional. If you smell maple syrup outside the car, this might mean that you have a leaking radiator cap or that the radiator itself has a leak.
Wouldn't you fill it up with water and then see if it leaks? If you have a coolant loss you might have to start the vehicle and check under the hood for possible leaks at the hose connections and also the radiator. You may also have a leak in the heating system. You can check that by turning on the heater and seeing if you smell the scent of antifreeze coming from the vents.