Leaking coolant

[OmMEGGA]

Have the car for about a week.
Its loosing coolant only when completely cold. So after I drive it will start dripping maybe 4-5 hours later. It's also very minor leak , driver side about 10 inches away from the bumper. Its puddling around the sub frame then it drips on to the driveway.

Any idea what could it be?

 

[Bob Gervais]

Could be a lot of things, tough to tell when it puddles and then drips. Best bet is to borrow or rent a cooling system pressure tester, pressurize the system, and pinpoint the leak.

 

[dohcsable]

Without seeing it, I will place my money on needing a new radiator. It is probably leaking at the plastic end tank.


Edit, also what bob said.....:angelnot:

 

[OmMEGGA]

I see. Well it has been 2 nights coolant-free. Weird. Not a single drop for couple of nights. Maybe loose hose?

 

[rbruso]

Was it just sitting those two days? The end tank crimps usually only leak under pressure, so if the car wasn't driven (or was only driven for short distances) you might not build up enough pressure to leak if it is the crimps.

A loose hose would leak anytime coolant was near it. They tend to fossilize onto the fittings, though.

 

[OmMEGGA]

No. I drove both of these days 35+ miles. It will only leak when the engines is off and it cools down ... usually after 5 hours I saw it dripping a little. Now, past 2 days nothing. I also drove my car to work today (40 miles) and came back after to find no coolant. I'll see tomorrow morning if there is any...

 

[OmMEGGA]

OK found the leak. It's hard to explain but its the very bottom of the radiator (I think) right on the driver side right above subframe. Anyways that weird looking thing is sipping coolant when completely cold and also when I squeeze any of the main radiator hoses. I patched it with JB weld and see if its going to leak tomorrow morning. It's a temporary fix until I bring it to the shop next month.

 

[rbruso]

Is it a crack in the plastic or is it the drain valve that's leaking?

 

[OmMEGGA]

Is it a crack in the plastic or is it the drain valve that's leaking?

OK I didn't take this picture but one of the member had similar leak on the same side...



See the drain looking thing? To the right (you can't see in the picture) it connects with the bottom of the radiator and that is where its leaking. Seems to me that the seal is letting go. There is no crack. It just sips through the seal...

 

[rbruso]

Is it right between where the plastic and metal join? If so, that's a very common leak region. You can sometimes also get by by recrimping the metal fingers that attach the two pieces.

If you get a new plastic/metal radiator, you should spend the time going over all the fingers and making sure they are crimped tightly. Or go all aluminum.

Recrimp: http://www.shoforum.com/showpost.php?p=988674&postcount=10

 

[OmMEGGA]

Is it right between where the plastic and metal join?

Yes. But I'm not sure if you thinking of the same part thou. I will probably go all aluminium like you said.