2004 1.9 S40 - Coolant leak/loss of color and Starting Issue

[brando_calrissian]

My S40 is currently experiencing a few issues. I am really hoping they are not all tied together, although just one fix could (possibly) be nice. 94500 is the mileage.

First off, it gives me a hard time about starting sometimes. It will always crank but occasionally will not start. This seems to occur more often in damp/cool conditions and only upon the first start of the day (once it starts for the day, it will start for the rest of the day). When it finally does start in this type of condition, there sometimes has been a puff of white smoke that blows out of the exhaust. Plugs, wires, and coils have been replaced with OEM. I pulled the plugs the other day though and they are fouled/darkened.

Secondly, the smell of coolant comes in through the air vents. This happens with A/C, normal blowing air, and Heat. The higher the air pressure setting, the less of a coolant smell comes in. The coolant level has dropped a few times but topping it off usually stays for a while (a very very slow leak). No coolant dripping in to the cabin either but I am getting defrost fog on the windshield.

Third, I went to check the coolant level today and noticed the color was waaay off. I suctioned some out of there and it was almost clear, with a hint of yellow/green to it. This is far from the blue coolant/water mix I had been topping off with (OEM coolant).

I'm unsure if these following facts helps at all but: the oil itself is fine, no cloudy/milky stuff and no water on the dipstick. I also have a bad valve cover gasket, with a slow oil leak around the cover and also in to the spark plug wells.

Any thoughts on this? Should I not even drive it right now?