Anti-Freeze Leak?

[KentuckySHOoff]

Ok, on a cold start I get a rather large anti-freeze leak coming off the back of my motor (running straight off the back of the tranny and pooling) It only does it on the first cold start. Any ideas on what it could be?

 

[shojuan]

Could be one of the heater hoses leaking. Each heater hose is three parts: a middle metal pipe, a top rubber hose held on by clamps, a bottom rubber hose that's crimped onto the metal pipe (and clamped to the engine). I got a leak on one of my heater hoses at this crimp connection in June. It's kind of a bitch to remove the heater hose and pipe assembly, but once I did I just cut off the crimp connection (a pair of tin snips will do nicely) and replaced the rubber hose with a section of 3/4" bulk hose and stainless steel clamps. Make sure this is where your leak is before you take it apart!

Rick

Rick

 

[projectSHO89]

See my post from a day or two ago on locating coolant leaks for advice: http://www.shoforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=004617

Steve

 

[ckinart]

I had the exact same thing happen to me as shojuan... if you find the leak coming from one of the rubber sections of any of the heater hoses, I would suggest you replace all the hose sections while you're fixing the failed one... it'll save you having to go back in there later...

good luck!

 

[rangerj]

Kentucky,

Check around the edges of the hoses at their ends with you finger. If you find fluid, tighten the clamp.

While your at it, check all of the clamps for tightness.

I see this problem frequently with all makes and models this time of year. The radiator hoses are the more frequent offenders, but heater hoses cannot be overlooked.

I do not know for sure what causes this, but it seems that the rubber compound contracts with the cold, leaving the clamp loose. Once you warm up the engine, the leak stops. When you let it sit and cool down, you find a puddle.

This is not to say that you do not have a leak of another origin, but this is the easiest place to start.
Hope this helps, rangerj