I have a leak in the coolant system that I have narrowed to I believe is the water inlet tube off of the lower radiator hose.
The timing belt and water pump were replaced within the year. I have had the engine mount replaced as well. The shop that has done all of the work on the car said that the leak was the radiator, and the thermostat housing leaking. I knew of the thermostat housing leaking a little but had never seen any signs of the radiator leaking, so I decided to replace these myself. The radiator had no issues, but I went on and replaced it anyway as well as the lower and upper radiator hoses, thermostat and filler neck.
The leak drips down from the area of the water pump, behind the timing belt cover. I ha
The leak drips down from the area of the water pump, behind the timing belt cover. I ha
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
First off, I would say it would be best to pressure test the cooling system to verify where the coolant is coming from. With the complexity of repairs to the cooling system on this vehicle, it may be worth the time spent to pressure test the system before tackling the replacement. Now then, as far as replacing the o-ring seal on the water pump inlet tube, it should really only require the removal of the bypass hose, lower radiator hose, and the two (or three, depending on manufacturing changes) mounting bolts that hold the inlet tube to the block. I personally would go ahead and replace the tube while I was there, instead of just the o-ring. Granted, this doesn’t mention what it will take to get down to the inlet pipe, but this is all it should take once you have access to it. If this is something that you feel you could use a hand with, consult with a certified mechanic, like those available at YourMechanic.com.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Coolant leaks are one of the most common symptoms of a faulty radiator hose. They happen when the hose either deteriorates due to heat or abrasive damage, or when there`s a problem with the clamps that connect the hose to another component in the engine.
If the coolant level is dropping and there is no external leak evident, then the coolant is probably leaking internally, into the engine. If the car has recently overheated then this could have caused the head gasket to fail. If it has, it could be leaking coolant into the combustion chambers.
Coolant is used to remove heat from the engine by transferring heat through a series of coils. The cool air then flows back into the engine, preventing the engine from overheating. It`s best to avoid driving your car if you have a coolant leak because an overheating engine is an unsafe engine!
Replacing a leaking radiator hose on your car is fairly easy. All you need are a few basic tools, a basic knowledge of how your vehicle is designed, and some replacement coolant. While you can always tape the gap up to prevent more liquid from leaking out of the hose, you`re best off solving the problem permanently.
Broken radiator hose or hot pipe is easy to fix with Rescue tape because it can handle temperature up to 500F and pressure up to 950 PSI. | Rescue Tape is extremely durable, but when it comes time to remove it, it does not leave any sticky residue like a duck tape.
The most common failure mode on a standard, moulded hose is electrochemical degradation, or ECD. ECD is caused by an electrical charge being carried through the coolant from component to component. It occurs because the hose, liquid coolant and the engine/radiator fittings form a galvanic cell or “battery”.
Look for signs of coolant leakage—a light-colored residue or stain—around the radiator cap, on hoses throughout the engine compartment (check the ends where they are clamped to other components) and on the radiator itself. If it looks like a hose is leaking near a clamp, try tightening the clamp with a screwdriver.
Depending on the cause of leakage, you may get away driving with a radiator leak for a short time. Eventually, the lack of coolant will cause your car to overheat – which may in turn precipitate damage to various engine bay components. That`s why it`s a good idea to stop and inspect the issue as soon as you notice it.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have a leak in the coolant system that I have narrowed to I believe is the water inlet tube off of the lower radiator hose.
ANSWER : First off, I would say it would be best to pressure test the cooling system to verify where the coolant is coming from. With the complexity of repairs to the cooling system on this vehicle, it may be worth the time spent to pressure test the system before tackling the replacement. Now then, as far as replacing the o-ring seal on the water pump inlet tube, it should really only require the removal of the bypass hose, lower radiator hose, and the two (or three, depending on manufacturing changes) mounting bolts that hold the inlet tube to the block. I personally would go ahead and replace the tube while I was there, instead of just the o-ring. Granted, this doesn’t mention what it will take to get down to the inlet pipe, but this is all it should take once you have access to it. If this is something that you feel you could use a hand with, consult with a certified mechanic, like those available at YourMechanic.com.
Have a leak from upper or lower radiator hose.
ANSWER : I would recommend looking at either hose to determine which hose the leak is coming from with the car running as this will pressurize the system and force water to the leaking point. Consider scheduling an appointment with one of our expert mechanics to come to your home or office to diagnose the leaking coolant issue and make necessary repairs.
My car has a coolant leak
ANSWER : Hello. The most common cause of a random coolant loss on this vehicle is a leaking intake manifold gasket. It commonly starts leaking coolant into the engine, which will be burnt off or will leak externally. I typically do a pressure test and a dye test on the system first to see if I can locate an external leak. If nothing is found, then I do a block test to make sure that there is not a head gasket issue. If nothing shows up there, then I replace the intake gaskets. If you need to have this done, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to diagnose the coolant leak and replace the intake gaskets if necessary.
No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?
ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.
If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Leaking top radiator hose? Leaking top radiator hose how to replace a leaking top radiator
ANSWER : If you have not done a job like this before you might want to consider watching a professional from YourMechanic do it for you, especially as the labor time is less than 1.5 hours so it’s pretty economical. The first order of business, of course, is to make sure that the upper hose is actually leaking and you don’t have a different issue such as a crack is the radiator itself where the hose attaches. Also, if that hose is leaking due to a break in aged rubber, the other "old" hoses should be inspected as well. A radiator hose replacement entails removing any plastic shields that prevent access to the hose(s). Then, you have to drain the coolant to a level below the lowest point that you will be working at. The hose clamps are removed and then you have to carefully "debond" the hose from the point it is attached to the tank. Over time, the rubber will bond really tightly to the radiator and you have to break the seal with damaging or severely scratching the radiator "nipple" (the part the hose slides over). Then you slip the new hose on (with clamps already loosely applied), apply the clamps and you are ready to refill. When refilling, you have to open the cooling system bleeder screws (if equipped) to ensure that air does not get trapped. Trapped air could cause the car to overheat as trapped air can block coolant flow.
overheating due to coolant loss with no leaking
ANSWER : Hi there. Completing a compression or pressure test might help diagnose the source of your problem, but I would suspect if you’re not finding a leak, that the issue is a blown head gasket. Two ways of determining if this is the case. First, check your engine oil. If the oil is milky, this means coolant is getting inside the engine oil galley’s some how, most likely due to a blown head gasket or cracked engine block. Second, check for signs of white smoke from the exhaust. This is also an indicator of coolant. Coolant has to go somewhere, and if you’re constantly running low on coolant and having consistent overheating problems; with no visible leak, the issue is probably internal.
Coolant leak/ loose belt.looks like tensioner is loose. Could it be that just the water pump gasket is bad?
ANSWER : Coolant can be leaking from a number of seals or gaskets. If it seems to be in the water pump area, odds are the water pump shaft seal is leaking. While it is possible the water pump gasket is leaking, it would not make sense to remove the water pump to replace the gasket, then remount the original water pump (if it is original). If it is original, then it could potentially fail at any time. A certified technician can diagnose the coolant leak and isolate the exact cause.
The belt tensioner is there to do just what the name suggests. Keep the belt tight. A loose serpentine belt can be an indication that a belt tensioner replacement may be necessary. The technician can replace the tensioner and belt (if needed) along with the water pump.
I have an 97 Ford Explorer and recently fix my water pump, radiator upper and lower hoses but my coolant reservoir tank is empty
ANSWER : Check the coolant levels when cold and fill to the cold line on reservoir and then start and warm engine to see if the coolant is full to the warm level. You may have just not filled the coolant all the way when work was done.
