What to do if you have a slow coolant leak?
If your coolant isn’t evaporating and you don’t have a blown head gasket, then you must have a slow coolant leak. A cooling system pressure test is the easiest way to find a slow coolant leak. Many auto parts stores will rent cooling system pressure testing equipment for a small fee or even for free.
Can a blown head gasket cause a slow coolant leak?
Blown head gaskets can also cause coolant to slowly get drawn into your engine causing a similar slow loss of coolant. If you have a blown head gasket it will have other symptoms so try reading our article on symptoms of a blown head gasket to tell if that is the problem you have.
Can a leaking coolant tank cause an engine to overheat?
An internal leak won’t cause a puddle of coolant under your car. Instead, it will be noticeable when your coolant level does not stay constant and you find that you need to constantly refill the tank to keep your engine from overheating.
What happens if coolant leaks from the bottom of a radiator?
The radiator is a pressurized system so if there is a loss of pressure from the cap not fitting properly or if the cap is the incorrect cap for the radiator, the pressure will be lost and a leak could occur. This can be diagnosed with a pressure test of the radiator cap.
Can a slow coolant leak leave a trail?
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. There are two things that can easily be confused with a slow coolant leak: As the coolant in your vehicle expands as it gets hot it is forced out of your radiator into the coolant overflow tank or degas tank.
Blown head gaskets can also cause coolant to slowly get drawn into your engine causing a similar slow loss of coolant. If you have a blown head gasket it will have other symptoms so try reading our article on symptoms of a blown head gasket to tell if that is the problem you have.
An internal leak won’t cause a puddle of coolant under your car. Instead, it will be noticeable when your coolant level does not stay constant and you find that you need to constantly refill the tank to keep your engine from overheating.
The radiator is a pressurized system so if there is a loss of pressure from the cap not fitting properly or if the cap is the incorrect cap for the radiator, the pressure will be lost and a leak could occur. This can be diagnosed with a pressure test of the radiator cap.