Depending on what kind you use, the liquid will be blue, red, or green.īy determining where the leak is coming from, you will have a better idea of what part might have failed. Get underneath the vehicle and take a good look for leaking coolant. Even if there isn’t a hole yet, coolant could easily be seeping through the crack. You also want to look for cracks in the hose surface. Depending on where the hole is, the leak may only occur when the engine is running or off, based on where the coolant is at the time. If there is a torn hose, the coolant should be dripping from its surface. There are hoses throughout the system that should be examined. It should be securely attached to the radiator to avoid leakage and other consequences. You should also examine the radiator cap to see if it is damaged. You might need to clean off the radiator of leaves, dirt and debris to see where the coolant is coming from. The first place to look for a leak is around the radiator. RELATED: 5 Causes of a Coolant Leak (& How to Fix it) Areas to Examine for Coolant Leak 1. Otherwise, it could create large problems when the engine is running. If coolant is leaking below the vehicle, it could be caused by a bad gasket.Īs with any of the issues, the sooner this is repaired, the better off you are. The intake manifold gasket is found at the spot where the manifold connects to the engine. This is yet another issue that can cause problems with the engine on and off. The water pump’s job is to push the coolant through the hoses smoothly.Īs the water pump starts to fail, the coolant can no longer flow the way it should. If the water pump becomes damaged, you might notice a huge coolant leak. RELATED: How to Test if the Head Gasket is Blown (7 Easy Steps) 5. This problem occurs when the engine is running and when it’s off, but running the engine is more dangerous, since the motor will start overheating.Ī bad head gasket can also cause external coolant leakage and you will see if coolant leaks out between the engine block and the head. The head gasket is responsible for keeping the oil and coolant separated from one another.Īs coolant leaks into the system, it’s no longer able to keep the engine cool. If the coolant has started leaking into the engine oil or combustion chamber, a blown head gasket is the likely cause. RELATED: 6 Symptoms of a Bad Radiator Cap (& Replacement Cost) 4. The radiator could also be cracked or damaged from any external damages like corrosion or stones when traveling at high speeds. Additionally, the coolant reservoir could overflow when you run the engine because of the higher pressure in the hoses. If the cap is damaged, coolant can leak out, leading to lower levels in the radiator. It also helps to regulate the pressure in the radiator. The radiator cap is needed to keep the coolant in the system where it belongs. The heat and constant pressure can increase the wear if left unchecked. As the motor runs, the pressure of the system can either increase the leak or decrease it, depending on where the hole is.Įither way, hoses can become brittle and worn over time, which is why they should be regularly inspected. Damaged HosesĪ broken hose can also cause a leak when the engine is running or not. You might also see leakage under the vehicle around the passenger or driver seat area. If the heater core is bad, you will notice trouble getting heat into the system. The heat that is generated from the system gets blown into the vehicle through the HVAC vents when you activate the heater. Hot coolant gets pumped into the engine through the system’s heater core. Here is some more detailed information on what could cause a coolant leak when the car is running. A bad intake manifold gasket could also be to blame. It’s also possible that there is a bad heater core or a blown head gasket. Can I Drive With a Coolant Leak? Causes of Coolant Leak While Car is RunningĬoolant leaks when the car is not running can be caused by damaged hoses, a bad radiator cap, a bad radiator, or a defective water pump.
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