when cold car leaks coolant.

[crizzaSHO]

When I start my car in the morning, it leaks coolant from the drivers side right behind the fog light. Any ideas what it could be?? I think it might be a hose or something....

 

[JaySHOguy]

Cracked radiator end tank or a leaky upper hose.

 

[SHOtimer]

You could be very lucky...The drain for the radiator is behind the radiator (facing the engine) maybe it is loose and when cold is leaking a bit. Try that, otherwise try looking for the leak when the car is cold..and is leaking.
Doug

 

[91 Plus]

I think its the QUAIFE if you want to let me have it..your problem will be solved!Thanks

 

[N3FOL]

I had posted a similar problem regarding coolant leaking last Tuesday, but my original post - all of a sudden just disappeared on this forum. At any rate, I also had a slow leak underneathe the car by the driver side. At first, I thought it was coming from the T-connector below the radiator drain plug. A forum member stated that the T-connector has nothing to do with the radiator and coolant within. So after searching and searching, I discovered that the upper radiator hose has a slow leak on both ends. I retightened the above for now. I'll cross my fingers...hopefully no more leak. Good Luck.

 

[crizzaSHO]

from what I understand, the clamps on the hoses now suck!!! So I will clamp it with screw type clamps. Any other ideas?? my car only has 55K and it's very well taken care of. So i hope it's not the radiator yet!!! Maybe it is the Quaiffe....

 

[Mike Kelly]

My stock radiator would leak when cold from the bottom corner (firewall side) of the radiator, drivers side. When the car would warm up the leak would go away?

 

[SHOZ123]

This is a symptom of the poorly designed radiator. The side tanks are crimped onto the radiator core with a foam type sealant as the gasket. As the car cools the core contracts and pulls slightly away from the tank. As the radiator heats up the core expands and seals.

I just got a new radiator to replace the two year old Modine which has done this from day one. I don't know why the tanks usu sally leak on the drivers side and not the other.

 

[Rockledge]

JaySHOguy:
Cracked radiator end tank or a leaky upper hose.

That's my guess, as well.

Crizza's SHO has the same symptons I experienced when the radiator end tank in my '93 Sable sprung a tiny leak ...the coolant only leaked out when the system was cold and engine was running, never leaked out when it was at normal operating temp (or if it did I couldn't find any evidence of it,) and never leaked out after I shut the car off and let it cool.

The only time it ever leaked was when I started the car in the morning and let it sit a few minutes. And the leak was so tiny that I couldn't find any evidence of it for several weeks...drove me crazy!

Also, FWIW, I just replaced the radiator in my SHO because of (surprise surprise) a leaky end tank seam.

<small>[ October 09, 2003, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Rockledge ]</small>

 

[crizzaSHO]

is there a way to make the new radiator stronger around those seams??? Like some silicone or something????

 

[crizzaSHO]

anyone??

 

[SHOZ123]

I took my radiator out and re-crimped it with a vise grips. I also did this to the new one I put in. The drivers side is not crimped as tight as the passenger even when new.

I found this in a Helm manual relating to a different Ford product.

• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Tank ****** Leaks
  
  1. Use a suitable tool to re-press the flanges in the area of the leak.
  
  2. Retest the radiator for leaks.
  
  3. If the ****** leak persists, repair with Dow Corning 1200 Clear Prime Coat and Silastic 734 RTV or equivalents as described previously, extending the application area about 50mm (2 inches) on each side of the leak area.

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