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?
There was a slow loss in anti freeze I noticed last week when I checked under the hood it wasn't the top radiator hose but a hose under it I don't recognize in my Chrysler 300 hemi there isn't any fluid in my floor board or anything but I'm worried it may be my heater core or heater hoses no visible leaks anywhere else
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
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.
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.
A cracked radiator hose can lead to a coolant leak and your car overheating; if the needle on your vehicle`s engine temperature gauge starts moving toward “hot,” it could spell trouble for your engine.
Causes of Coolant Hose Leaks. Unfortunately, even the best hoses will eventually wear out over time. Hose leaks are the most common result of this, and they occur when cracks or abrasions form on the hose. Over time, the cracks get bigger, causing it to leak coolant.
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!
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.
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.
A car radiator leak can reduce the effectiveness of your entire cooling system. If you don`t get it repaired, it could cause your entire engine to overheat — and that can cost a pretty penny to fix.
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”.
The coolant pump has a seal which prevents coolant from leaking past the bearing. If this seal fails then coolant can seep out where the coolant pump pulley shaft enters the pump housing. There could also be a leak between the pump and engine block if the pump`s gasket has failed.
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.
Generally, small holes in your radiator hoses or loose connections between hoses and the cooling system are the most likely cause of an external coolant leak.
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 stop these leaks is usually to replace the hose as they are inexpensive and easy to get to.
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.
There is no set lifespan for a radiator hose. On average, they should last for at least five years, but some will last longer, especially if you`re vigilant about having your coolant changed and your vehicle maintained properly.
Common signs include leaking coolant, engine overheating, the Low Coolant Light coming on, and radiator hose damage or collapse.
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.
If your engine has overheated (due to a stuck thermostat, low coolant or for some other reason), it`s possible for superheated coolant to swell the hose. Swollen hoses should be replaced as soon as possible. This applies to radiator hoses, as well as other hoses under the hood.
You most likely have a blown head gasket and the coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber(s), where it is getting past the rings into the oil as well as going out the exhaust. Sometimes the block gets warped from this leakage and has to be re-honed and decked (flattened) or replaced altogether.
Coolant leaks from the water pump are common and a clear sign that it`s time to replace the pump. The coolant is stored inside the water pump using a series of gaskets and seals. Once these parts wear out, loosen, or crack, you`ll end up with radiator fluid leaking out of the front of your car toward the center.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What could be building up pressure to where it is having my radiatior hose blow off the top of the radiator?
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in. The blown head gasket could be a possibility. Over time the antifreeze can chemically become acidic and break down the head gasket. This will introduce engine compression into the coolant system, and when this happens, high pressure is produced which can blow the radiator hose off. A faulty radiator cap also could be the cause of this issue. There are tests that can be performed to confirm this. If you’d like, a certified YourMechanic technician can come to your location to perform a radiator cap pressure test on your vehicle.
What’s the name of this hose nobody seems to know or mention even in Google?
ANSWER : The hose you are referring to would be the bypass hose. It is very possible that plymouth may have a different name for the hose but the typical name for this hose is the bypass hose.
This hose allows coolant to bypass the thermostat to keep the circulation of coolant going through the engine before it has reached operating temperature.
Depending on how the hose connects to the vehicle, you may be able to just get a piece of bulk hose that is the same size and length as the old hose and just use that.
If you need assistance with replacing it, have one of our mobile technicians come to you to diagnose any issues firsthand and replace your bypass hose as necessary.
