My car has a coolant leak
With a.c. on I was getting steam coming through the vents and I noticed leaking coolant under the car near the catalytic converter. It leaked enough that I had to add coolant or it would get hot. I bypassed the heater core to see if it stopped leaking and it did. I'm pretty sure I need a new heater core but in the past it always leaks inside on the carpet not outside under the car. That is making me second guess myself. It seems obvious since the leak stopped after the bypass that it needs a heater core but since it leaks outside the car it confuses me. Is there something on these cars lik
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The heater AC (air conditioning) case has a drain to let out condensation from the case. The heater core is positioned in the case that allows it get out through the case drain on the outside of the engine firewall between the center toward the passenger side of the car in the case of a leak. Bypassing the heater core has stopped the leak but the heater and defroster is not inoperative along with the automatic temperature control of the air conditioner. I recommend having the heater core inspected and replaced to fix the system.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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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.
When coolant leaking from bottom of car is witnessed, it could be because of the worn out hoses. Visit a mechanic for hoses replacement and fixtures so that the appropriate coolant levels can be maintained. SEE MORE: The Major Symptoms Of Low Coolant In Your Car.
Pressure testing is used to check for leaks in the cooling system and to test the radiator cap.
How much coolant loss is normal? Providing that the engine is running well, with no leakages or damage, you can expect a coolant loss of 0.25% every four to six months. This means a loss of two to three ounces a year is completely normal.
Antifreeze (aka coolant) is pumped through your vehicle`s engine as you drive, absorbing excess heat and exchanging it with the outside air. That means an antifreeze leak could cause the engine to overheat — and that can lead to major engine damage.
Technically speaking yes you can use plain water in your cooling system but it isn`t recommended as a long term solution and certainly not in extreme weather conditions.
You can slow or stop a small leak by reducing the pressure on the system with a low pressure radiator cap, which should prevent the fluid from being pushed out of the leak. Use a low pressure cap only as a quick fix for a radiator leak to get you to the repair shop.
Visually inspect the radiator, the hose connections and the water pump for any obvious signs of a coolant leak. A malfunctioning water pump may appear to be leaking. Most water pumps have a weep hole or weep chamber that allows water to escape from the bottom of the pump should the pump fail.
Depending on the reason that your radiator`s leaking, you may be fine driving around for a week or two and just refilling the radiator tank with coolant as needed. But if your radiator leak is serious, topping off the coolant a couple of times a week might not cut it—unless you`re prepared to drop big bucks on 50/50.
If you are regularly topping off your coolant, you have a coolant leak somewhere in the system. It can be difficult to identify where the leak is coming from. Often it is best to have a professional diagnose a coolant leak, but there are a few things you can check before bringing your car into a shop.
The time to catch a leak is before it gets worse or causes the engine to overheat. A leaky head gasket or cracked head or block will cause the coolant level in the reservoir to gradually go down. White smoke in the exhaust is often a clue that the engine is passing coolant through the combustion chamber.
Coolant is critical in preventing your engine cooling system from overheating during summer. Your vehicle`s engine heats up as you drive, so without the proper coolant level, an engine will get too hot. And if you ignore the leak, it can lead to worse problems for your car`s engine down the road.
When coolant leaks from the radiator, it can mix with the transmission fluid, which enters through the cooler lines. This creates a colorful mixture referred to as the Strawberry Milkshake of Death (SMOD). This dreaded mixture is toxic and leads to irreversible transmission damage.
No, you should use distilled water or better yet, de-ionized water. The reason for this is that tap water has minerals that can deform deposits inside the radiator and the cooling system passages of your engine. And over a long period of time they can lead to over-heating.
What happens if you mix water with a 50/50 antifreeze? You`ll get a more diluted antifreeze which will allow freezing at a higher temperature than the original mix.
Synonyms for Coolant Leak
If coolant leaks, it`s the antifreeze you`ll notice because of its bright color. Radiator leak: A coolant leak may involve a leaky radiator, but the culprit could also be another part.
Up to 15% leakage means an engine in acceptable condition. Anything above 15% would be an indication that engine repair is needed. A great side benefit of using a tester of this type is that it is easy to pinpoint the leakage while the cylinder is pressurized.
The two most common methods include pressure decay testing and rate of rise testing. In pressure decay testing a known pressure is applied to a component, and pressure is monitored over time to determine pressure decay. The pressure as a function of time can be used to determine the leak rate.
Slow Coolant leaks are extremely difficult to diagnose. Unlike leaking oil, slow coolant leaks leave barely any residue behind. Coolant is half water and it`s other ingredients that don`t form a sticky residue so the slow leaks usually don`t leave an evidence trail.
If the coolant looks like there is rust in it, or if it is a brown color instead of the green or orange color it started out with, then you should bring it in to have the coolant flushed. If you can see that the coolant tubes in the radiator have clogs, then this is also a sign that the coolant needs changing.
If you are regularly topping off your coolant, you have a coolant leak somewhere in the system. It can be difficult to identify where the leak is coming from. Often it is best to have a professional diagnose a coolant leak, but there are a few things you can check before bringing your car into a shop.
Still, you should have the problem remedied by a mechanic. Your radiator cap may be leaking, the heater core may be cracked, or holes in the radiator hoses may be causing the coolant leakage. Staying on top of your car`s health is just as important as staying on top of your car insurance.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car is leaking coolant and telling me to stop the car and check coolant.
ANSWER : Going by your description and the age of the car, I’m going to guess you have a problem with your water pump. The water pump has a rotating seal that often doesn’t leak unless the engine is running. If your water pump is leaking you might be able to see a drip from the bottom of the engine front cover. Before jumping to any conclusions though, you should have a professional pressure test the system to be sure. If you contact Your Mechanic. they can send a technician to your home or office to check out your leak and tell you what it will take to solve it.
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My car has a coolant leak – 2001 Lincoln Town Car
ANSWER : The heater AC (air conditioning) case has a drain to let out condensation from the case. The heater core is positioned in the case that allows it get out through the case drain on the outside of the engine firewall between the center toward the passenger side of the car in the case of a leak. Bypassing the heater core has stopped the leak but the heater and defroster is not inoperative along with the automatic temperature control of the air conditioner. I recommend having the heater core inspected and replaced to fix the system.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
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.
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Fuel EVAP line that runs under car is kinked how do I know if it is leaking? Also can I drive it like that if it’s not leaking?
ANSWER : Hi Ricardo. We answered your question earlier. However, if you didn’t receive the reply, here is what we stated earlier. In most cases, an EVAP leak will create an OBD-II trouble code. The best way to detect an EVAP leak is by having a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection, they will be able to download the code and determine the source of the leak. That’s the best advice we can offer you. Thanks.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
Oil leaking from under car and "remote control car" sound when car is first started for a few minutes until it warm up.
ANSWER : Hello,
There are a number of things that could make an engine noisy when starting up. Depending on the specific type of sound you are referring to, this will determine how to properly diagnose. If there is a bit of a hissing sound, this may be a sign of a vacuum leak. If this is more of a shrieking sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or out of adjustment serpentine belt. If there is a bit of a howling or growling sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or low on fluid power steering pump. A rattling or pinging sound may be caused by an ignition problem. An engine can ping (or knock) due to an improper combustion process. A "spark knock" is the result of combustion occurring too early. Early combustion can occur from carbon buildup inside the combustion chamber, a lean air/fuel mixture, and advanced ignition timing (spark plug firing too soon). A clattering type sound may be a result of improper lubrication in the valve train which could be a more serious problem and should be addressed as soon as possible. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle to ensure everything is in proper working order.
There are a number of things that could make an engine noisy when starting up. Depending on the specific type of sound you are referring to, this will determine how to properly diagnose. If there is a bit of a hissing sound, this may be a sign of a vacuum leak. If this is more of a shrieking sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or out of adjustment serpentine belt. If there is a bit of a howling or growling sound, this may be a sign of a worn out or low on fluid power steering pump. A rattling or pinging sound may be caused by an ignition problem. An engine can ping (or knock) due to an improper combustion process. A "spark knock" is the result of combustion occurring too early. Early combustion can occur from carbon buildup inside the combustion chamber, a lean air/fuel mixture, and advanced ignition timing (spark plug firing too soon). A clattering type sound may be a result of improper lubrication in the valve train which could be a more serious problem and should be addressed as soon as possible. I would suggest having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle to ensure everything is in proper working order.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
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.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
Fuel EVAP line that runs under car is kinked how do I know if it is leaking? Also can I drive it like that if it’s not leaking?
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, an EVAP leak will create an OBD-II trouble code, which is the best way to detect an EVAP leak. By having a professional mobile mechanic complete a check engine light inspection, they will be able to download the code and determine the source of the leak. In most cases, it’s an EVAP purge solenoid that is faulty.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
I used stop leak to fix a slow leak in my water pump,it worked but the car went into limp mode after it.
ANSWER : Stop leak in the cooling system is likely to cause more problems than it will solve. Modern cooling systems are much more finely drawn and have far smaller passages than older cars, and stop leak will jam things up. I can’t think how it would make your car go into limp home mode however, unless it was a coolant level fault.Of course a code read is in order and that should tell the story. Meanwhile, it’s clear that you need to take care of that water pump problem It may appear to be fixed, but the leak will be back. If you want some help with this, you can Contact Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office who can read the codes on your Jaguar and tell you what this limp home thing is all about.
Read Full Q/A … : My car has a coolant leak
