How To Fix An Engine Coolant Leak

Coolant is a central part of your auto's engine. A mixture of antifreeze and h2o, it keeps the cooling organization flowing effectively, raising the boiling bespeak of the water while simultaneously reducing its freezing signal.

Without coolant, your car can become damaged and break downwardly from everyday usage or the extremes of hot and cold weather that are condign e'er more than frequent. That means a coolant leak tin can be an especially expensive and frustrating thing for drivers to experience. And what's more than, the odor and gustation of coolant tin be bonny to animals notwithstanding the ethylene glycol in it is toxic, and then a leak tin can put your dog or cat at gamble besides.

Thankfully though, these issues can be avoided if a leak is fixed quickly. In this guide, we explore how yous can diagnose whether your car has a coolant leak, provide coolant leak repair tips, and help you fix a coolant leak in the best possible way.

How to identify whether your machine is leaking coolant

To work out whether your automobile has a coolant leak, you demand to properly diagnose the problem. In one case you lot're safely parked, check the following steps to discover out whether your motorcar is leaking coolant.

Sugariness smell - Antifreeze and coolant are sugariness-smelling. That ways if you smell information technology before or afterwards driving, in that location may be a coolant leak. To brand sure you're smelling the right thing, take hold of a bottle of coolant and clue yourself up on the odd aroma so yous can chop-chop identify its presence in the future.
Coloured puddles - Coolant tin come in bluish-green, pink, orange, or lime-green, and so if yous come across a puddle of this under your car after you've left it stationary for a petty fourth dimension, then your car may exist leaking coolant. Again, make sure y'all know exactly which type of coolant your car uses before you diagnose the issue, and to brand sure it's your coolant, not a neighbor's, drive your motorcar so information technology warms upwardly completely, and so park information technology on a clean, dry section of your driveway before you look for puddles later on.
Heat bug - If you begin seeing your vehicle's dashboard temperature gauge rising, this is due to the coolant condign hotter. Less coolant means a smaller volume of coolant to dissipate rut, so this may be a symptom of a coolant leak too.
Dashboard lights - Your dashboard lights can as well indicate a coolant leak. Look out for the coolant warning light and 'check engine' light, as these are often the most likely to show if yous have coolant issues.

How to find the source of the coolant leak

If you've discovered any of the to a higher place indications, it's time to piece of work out where the coolant leak is coming from.

Hither, y'all need to properly prepare your auto, and then bulldoze until it's warmed up, and then park it on a clean, dry out, and apartment driveway. It's crucial that you make sure the system has cooled downward before you open the bonnet, then wait for an hour or two to requite the fluid time to chill, then check off the following:

Detect the puddle - As we said before, a pool of coolant can mean a leak, but its location tin can aid diagnose exactly which part of the system is leaking.
If the puddle is towards the front of the car, so the trouble may exist in the engine bay or radiator. Open the bonnet and brainstorm using your eyes - and nose - to find the source of the leak. Likewise every bit leaking coolant, residues the same colour of your machine's specific type of coolant can too be a giveaway.
Smell the source - Every bit well equally sniffing out the source of the coolant leak in the engine bay, if you odour coolant in the motel, so it may be a problem with the auto's heater cadre, which as well contains some coolant. This tin can be a tough trouble to set on your own, given its location deep behind the dashboard, then consider a mechanic if you run across this trouble.
Bank check the tank - If you tin can't find out where your auto is leaking coolant from, and so double check the coolant tank, opening the cap with a cloth while the car is absurd. Top information technology upwardly to the maximum level, then take the motorcar for a drive. Let the auto and tank cool again, then check the reservoir. If the level hasn't dropped, and then a coolant leak is unlikely. If it's very low or empty, and then it's clear your car is leaking coolant and you lot should take your car to a technician.

How to fix a coolant leak

If you lot have found the source of the coolant leak, and then you may be able to fix information technology on your own. Leaky hose clamps tin often exist tightened past manus or wrench, and if a small corporeality of coolant is dripping from the hose itself, it may be possible to supplant it, if you are able to observe the part and are happy following a transmission or online tutorial.

That said, many coolant leaks can be in difficult-to-reach areas of the engine, such every bit deep inside the engine bay, backside the dashboard, and the radiator itself. That ways if you don't feel confident performing a coolant leak prepare on your vehicle, it's always a good idea to get professional person aid from your mechanic.

The one thing you shouldn't exercise, nonetheless, is standing to drive your motorcar. If y'all continue topping upwardly a automobile leaking coolant, yous'll non merely waste your money on fluid, simply pollute your drive and the roads, putting animals at risk in the process. And if y'all let your coolant leak dry, your engine may overheat from hot conditions or usage, or seize up due to freezing cold temperatures. Each of these can terminate up harming your components, resulting in costly garage bills.

Cull TotalEnergies' coolant and antifreeze

TotalEnergies has a wide range of antifreeze and coolant products available to motorists. GLACELF antifreeze and COOLELF coolant are designed to not just cool engines and stop them from seizing up, but to protect parts from corrosion, improve function lifespans, keep cooling systems clean, and much more. Learn more below, or contact our squad if you accept whatsoever questions.