I have an antifreeze leak internal I replaced the upper radiator hose new radiator as well can not see a leak or drip
My SUV radiator has been leaking I have replaced the upper hose and it runs hot if the proper amount of antifreeze is not in I have to fill it up with antifreeze about half a bottle at least once maybe twice a week
My car has 2300000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Coolant leaks no matter how big or small should be addressed as soon as possible. As you noticed, the engine will run hot with a low coolant level. Even a minor leak can expand to a large or catastrophic leak with no warning. A minor repair now can turn into engine overheat and damage. The leak can be small enough now that it is burning away when contacting hot surfaces and not hitting the ground. If the radiator leaking is the cause of the coolant loss, then it should be replaced as soon as possible. The cooling system operates under pressure – usually 12-15 psi. A small leak can become a large leak because of the pressure. Have a certified technician address this as soon as possible. Do not use "coolant leak sealer" products as they are a temporary fix and can actually cause more damage by clogging small coolant passages and damage the water pump as well.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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If you can locate a drip on a hose, the engine block or can see a radiator leak, and there`s a pool of coolant under the car, then it`s an external leak. If there are no puddles beneath the vehicle, yet the coolant level is dropping, you have an internal leak, which means the coolant is leaking into the engine.
A leaky or blown head gasket is often what causes coolant to leak internally. Forming a seal around the combustion chamber, a head gasket is critical to preventing engine coolant and oil from contaminating that chamber and causing serious, costly damage to your engine.
It could be multiple issues, ranging from a hose clamp that was not tightened correctly, the radiator cap is damaged or not correctly installed, a stripped radiator hose or perhaps the mechanic put too much radiator coolant vs. distilled water and the leak is coming from the overflow tank.
When you are losing coolant but no leak is visible, several parts could be the guilty party. It could be a blown head gasket, a fractured cylinder head, damaged cylinder bores, or a manifold leak. It could also be a hydraulic lock.
If you suspect an internal coolant leak, allow the radiator to cool, take off the cap, and look for signs of oil or frothy bubbles in the radiator or header tank. With the engine running, smell the coolant itself – if there is a whiff of exhaust gas , the cylinder-head gasket may be leaking.
One common place of a coolant leak is the radiator pan gasket. The drain plug can also cause leaking, and if the cap that seals the radiator can no longer contain the pressurized coolant, it will leak or spray out from underneath.
Corrosion within the radiator is one of the leading reasons that coolant leaks. As the tubes get older and weaker, you may get sediment or debris inside that causes a leak. The sealing gasket between the tank and the radiator can also wear out, and that could lead to a leak.
A cracked engine block can cause a range of problems. Ultimately, since the circulation system that cools the engine is comparatively fragile, a cracked engine block will lead to coolant leaking out of the area it is needed and leaving the engine to overheat.
Coolant Leaks
Oftentimes when the thermostat fails, it remains in its closed position. As the engine overheats, coolant will overflow out of the thermostat housing. This means that coolant leaking out of your engine could be a sign that your thermostat has gone bad.
Pressure testing is used to check for leaks in the cooling system and to test the radiator cap.
From the description you have provided, your vehicle`s bad PCV and coolant loss are not related. The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve is designed to remove combustion gases that get past the piston rings into the engine. Typically, a bad PCV valve leaks or plugs, replacement is recommended.
If you do see a coolant leak under your car, it could be from a blown head gasket, but it could also be from a number of other problems. Typically, if the head gaskets look normal, the problem is in the radiator. Remember, the coolant cycles through the radiator to lose heat it collected in the engine.
K-Seal Is The Best Way To Repair Engine Heater Core Leaks.
Leaking coolant is one of the most common signs of a bad radiator. If your car is leaking coolant, check the radiator hoses for any cracks or leaks. You should also check the radiator cap to see if it`s loose or damaged.
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.
The most common coolant leaks occur in the hoses that connect your engine to your radiator or heater core, or other small hoses running coolant to different equipment on your engine.
The best way to seal a cracked block is to use BlueDevil Radiator and Block Sealer. BlueDevil Radiator and Block Sealer is a specially formulated sealing agent that you add to your vehicle`s cooling system.
Coolant that leaks into the combustion chamber will cause the white smoke and milky oil as noted above. It can also produce white deposits that will foul the spark plugs and cause additional engine power failures. These are some of the warning signs you can look out for when it comes to the head gasket.
Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.
Look to see if the coolant is swirling/flowing immediately — that means the thermostat`s stuck open. If the coolant doesn`t flow after 10 minutes or so and continues to be stagnant after the temperature gauge indicates it`s hot, the thermostat`s likely stuck closed. Replace the radiator cap and turn off the engine.
So when the water pump must be replaced, it is a good idea to go ahead and also replace the timing belt, timing belt tensioner and idler pulleys.
If you can locate a drip on a hose, the engine block or can see a radiator leak, and there`s a pool of coolant under the car, then it`s an external leak. If there are no puddles beneath the vehicle, yet the coolant level is dropping, you have an internal leak, which means the coolant is leaking into the engine.
For large leaks, the easiest and fastest approach is to use a bubble test. With a bubble or dunk test, you fill the part to be tested with air or gas and immerse it in water, then watch for bubbles.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I have an antifreeze leak internal I replaced the upper radiator hose new radiator as well can not see a leak or drip
ANSWER : Coolant leaks no matter how big or small should be addressed as soon as possible. As you noticed, the engine will run hot with a low coolant level. Even a minor leak can expand to a large or catastrophic leak with no warning. A minor repair now can turn into engine overheat and damage. The leak can be small enough now that it is burning away when contacting hot surfaces and not hitting the ground. If the radiator leaking is the cause of the coolant loss, then it should be replaced as soon as possible. The cooling system operates under pressure – usually 12-15 psi. A small leak can become a large leak because of the pressure. Have a certified technician address this as soon as possible. Do not use "coolant leak sealer" products as they are a temporary fix and can actually cause more damage by clogging small coolant passages and damage the water pump as well.
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.
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.
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.
Hi Steven, I have a 1995 pontiac grand am, quad4 16 valve. Today the upper radiator hose broke and I replaced it. The problem I am
ANSWER : There could be trapped air in the cooling system. The sensor could be dirty or defective or there could be a fault in the warning circuit. In some applications, there is a potential delay (documented in the Factory Service Manual) for the sensor to reset once you have completed the repair and refilled the cooling system. If there is no overheating, especially due to trapped air, and the cooling system is full (check when stone cold and check reserve tank, too, of course) and yet the warning light remains on for more than three days, the recommended service to get this resolved is a warning light diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
I have 1971 jeepster commando that keeps getting really hot quick. Thermostat changed new radiator hose and new coolant
ANSWER : Hi there. It’s likely that the radiator is the actual problem. Over time, the interior of older radiators will corrode and cause rust and other materials to break off and cause obstructions inside the coolant system. This can impede the water pumps ability to efficiently flow coolant through the system. It’s also possible that your heater core is clogged up with debris, causing this issue. Here is a quick test to confirm this. Start your Jeep and turn the heater on full blast. Wait about five minutes, if you don’t feel heat coming from the heater vents, your issue is with the heater core. If you need help diagnosing your problem, please feel free to set up an engine is overheating inspection.
I have to replace an upper radiator hose, what steps must I take to access the hose and remove it.
ANSWER : Access to the hose is clear. On a vehicle of this age, if you are replacing one radiator hose, really all should be replaced, including the heater hoses, due to the inevitable deterioration of rubber products. YourMechanic does perform radiator hose replacements on a mobile basis and so feel free to set up a mobile visit to have the hose(s) replaced. If you replace the hoses(s) yourself, be sure to use any available purge points to remove trapped air as you refill the cooling system. Trapped air can cause engine overheating until it dislodges.
There’s a hose under the top radiator hose that seems to be leaking antifreeze. What hose is that and is it an easy fix?
ANSWER : Hi there. Usually the hose that’s directly under the top radiator hose is a return surge tank hose; typically coming from the radiator overflow coolant reservoir. Since winter is coming around soon, the best way to diagnose a coolant leak and to ensure it’s not your heater core of heater hose is to contact a professional mechanic and have them complete a coolant leak inspection. This service is the best way to eliminate the guess work and ensure you’re Chrysler 300 is repaired sooner rather than later.
