Odd coolant leak

[fitefanSHO]

I have what appears to be a small passenger side coolant leak. This just started after my car got back from the SHOp where much work was done including upper and lower radiator hoses, a thermostat and the addition of two gallons of coolant.

On the first day driving her home after the work, noticed nothing odd. NO leaking, no steaming, no coolant smell and temp at R the whole way.

Second day, the car was steaming or burning off coolant within 10 minutes of driving it. This went on for a bit then nothing, no steaming and no apparent leaking. Just went away. I assumed it was just cooking off what must have spilled during the work that was done.

Same deal the next day and the next. My temp was consistently on the R prior to the work but now fluctuates a bit from the R to A. Kinda up and down with no apparent reason. I have a very small coolant puddle every morning before I go to work on the passenger side.

So it's like it leaks some coolant into the engine and onto the floor/ground after I come in from a long drive and then I'm dealing with the effects the next time I drive it after it sits a while and cools down.

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

Lower rad hose clamp not tight? Crack in the overflow?

 

[Eric VerValin]

Probally just a little loose hose. My upper rad hose started leaking the first day it was below 30, never had a problem with it before. I left it running / leaking, then just a touch from my 5/16 nut driver and it stopped leaking. If you can.. wipe everything down with paper towel, and get all the water picked up. Then you'll know where its coming from when it leaks again.

 

[fitefanSHO]

Hey Eric, thanks. Do you think that maybe because (if) one of the lower rad hose clamps is a little loose, it doesn't leak under pressure and at running temp, but when it sits, cools, and depressurizes, it leaks a little bit?

 

[93rev2sev]

You don't even need to jack the car to check...just turn the wheel all the way to the right and idle the car until you can see where the coolant is coming from. Bring a little flashlight and use a floor mat to kneel on...you wont even get your pants dirty...

 

[K-Dawg]

Rent a pressure tester from your parts store. You'll find the leak right away.

 

[fitefanSHO]

This will probably be a classic case of I should have left good enough alone. The lower rad hose was not leaking (the upper was) so I had the guy do both as a preventive measure. Now suddenly I'm leaking over there. I bet he didn't tighten it enough. I'll pressure test ASAP.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Oh yea, (pressure thing). When things get cooler they contract, espically plastic radiator tubes. That what I was getting at when I said mine never leaked until the first cold day. I can tell you this.. a lot will depend on the hose clamps, and if they are nice and hefty. I had a problem for a while keeping the heater hoses tight. Its kinda crazy how tight they have to be sometimes. When my upper hose was leaking I had to tighten the crap out of it, and right when I thought something was going to break, it was tight enough.

But... you said you paid someone to do it.. so I'd just take it right back, and tell him its leaking.. let him deal with it.