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.
There are really only three common causes for coolant leaks, although each type of leak has several possibilities, varying in severity. You may notice that coolant has collected on the ground under your car or that your reservoir tank is not as high as it should be. This could be evidence of a slow leak in your system.