Last updated on August 7th, 2023 at 12:28 pm
It’s a fact that the temperature of an engine rises between 195-220° Fahrenheit. So, it’s a must to have a proper functioning coolant without any coolant leak in your vehicle in order to lower the temperature of your engine.
But what happens if there is a coolant leak or a radiator leak in your vehicle? Well, simply put, having a leaking coolant could destroy the engine of your vehicle. That’s exactly why you need to pay more attention to the condition of your coolant.
So, from this article, we are going to help you to find the reasons and solutions for a leaking coolant
First, let’s understand how to recognize a coolant leak.
A coolant is a liquid or freeze, which helps to control the temperature of the engine.
Another way to realize a leaking coolant is, having fluid on the floor where you park your car. Coolant liquid comes in different colors as orange, yellow, pink, green, and with a sweet smell. So, if you spot a liquid patch on the floor, there’s a higher chance that there is a coolant leak in your vehicle.
When there is a coolant leak, you might realize it when you check the coolant liquid level of the vehicle regularly.
Keep in mind, if you see a wet patch emitted from your vehicle, clean it up as soon as you can. The types of liquid we use for vehicles are highly toxic to humans and animals. So, if any kind of a liquid patch is visible on the floor, you have to wash it as soon as you can.
The temperature gauge also indicates if there is a coolant leak. Having slight fluctuations is normal in a temperature gauge. But, if there’s a significant change in the indicator, it means that there is something wrong in your vehicle, which you should be concerned about.
You can find a coolant leak if there are bubbles in the hose connection or the coolant reservoir. And some vehicles have a low-coolant indicator light, which illuminates when the coolant level is low.
Reasons for Coolant Leak
- A blown head gasket – There is a gap between the engine block and the cylinder head. A head gasket seals the gap between these two components. A blown gasket results in mixing the coolant and the engine oil.
You might not notice the effect of having a blown head gasket immediately. Once you start diving for a few miles, you will realize that there’s a problem in your car. As a result, the liquid leak from the vehicle makes the coolant level of the vehicle drop.
- Damaged horse – Coolant is carried by many hoses in your vehicle. So having one cracked hose can bring many damages to your car. Or, the hoses in your vehicle could be worn out with time. As a result, a coolant leak could happen from the places where the horses connect.
- Damaged radiator – At present, the radiator is non-corrosive, which helps to protect the radiator from damages. But, sometimes, there could be holes in the radiator. If there’s one, you can see a leak in the front part of your engine. But there are engines which could be exposed to corrosion. The reasons are having worn out hoses, older tubes, a blown head gasket, and much more. So, as a result, the debris could develop in the damaged areas, which again creates a radiator leak.
- A leaking radiator cap – Having a well-functioning seal controls the pressure of the radiator. It also controls the pressure of the coolant. But, with time, a radiator cap can wear off. So, having a damaged radiator cap makes a radiant leak.
- A fault in the water pump – This carries the coolant throughout the cooling system. So, it’s important to pay more attention to the water pump of your vehicle. You can find the hose connecting to the lower part of the radiator. So, this connection of the hose can corrode or loosen, which will cause a coolant leak.
- A damage in the expansion tank – This supplies coolant to the radiator by a rubber hose. And it plays a crucial role in controlling the heat of the radiator. The expansion tank is made of plastic, which is beside the engine. But, the plastic can wear off with time and temperature. As a result, there can be a hole or a crack that could leak the coolant from the tank.
- Overheating engine – If your engine boils up more than usual, which causes an emission of steam, you need to pay more attention to the condition of the engine. You need to wait minimum 30 mins until the engine cools down. You might hear a cracking sound or a ticking sound when the engine boils up.
Remedies/Solutions
If you notice the above signs in your vehicle, it is clear that there is something wrong with the coolant. So, now, we’ll see what are the solutions we can follow to fix a coolant leak.
- You have to trace back to the place where the leak occurs. Only then you can apply the right solution. Let’s say that there is a damaged hose. So, the best solution you can have is to replace it.
Most of the components under hood wear off eventually. So, you have to have a regular checkup on the parts of your vehicle to avoid severe risks in your vehicle.
- Checking the hose clamps is essential if you want to avoid a radiator leak in your vehicle. The hose clamps loosen with no particular reason. So, the best solution you can have is to check them regularly.
- You have to use a sealant for the damages in the head gasket and the radiator. But remember, use a sealant for minor cracks on the gasket. If the damage is serious, then you need to replace the head gasket of your vehicle.
- For the engine heat-up, you need to check the fluid level of the radiator. Again, keep in your mind, wait until the engine is cool before you touch it. Do not pour cold water into a boiled up radiator because having two different temperatures could cause damage to the radiator.
Tips
- Do not touch the engine while it’s hot. After parking the vehicle, wait at least 30 mins before contacting with the engine. It’s okay to wait time rather than being injured.
- When you use repair parts for the vehicle, always use high-quality products. You might try to find a temporary solution for a leak. But, one day, it is going to cause you trouble again. So, it’s better to find products with high quality for replacement.
- If you have any doubts about replacing a part, use your manual guide or contact a vehicle-specific expert.
- Use gloves and safety equipment before starting the work.
- Always choose an open area to work in your car.