A vehicle's heating system usually helps to prevent significant drops in engine efficiency by preventing overheating. This, in addition to the fact that it also helps prevent the frying of electronic parts, makes it necessary for you to switch into detective mode as soon as you notice any signs of a coolant leak.
It may be that you notice a coolant puddle underneath your vehicle, that the vehicle's reservoir tank levels are not where they should be, or that your engine overheats after a short drive. However negligible the sign may seem, don't ignore it. Here are coolant detection tips that will help you trace the source of the leak.
Visual detection
There are times when the coolant escapes through a hole, split or broken part. When this type of leakage happens, all you will notice is your vehicle overheating.
Start by checking the hose for any tears or splits. If there are none, inspect the radiator for any potential leak spots such as holes and cracks. If you find no signs of a leak, move to the engine freeze plugs, the heater core, and then to the water pump area. If there is a leak in any of these areas, you will be able to identify it through visual inspection.
If a pool of the coolant forms under your vehicle every time it sits idle for a long stretch of time, and if this pooling doesn't seem to cause your engine to immediately overheat, then you may be dealing with a coolant reservoir defect. This is because the coolant usually finds its way to the reservoir tank when there is excessive expansion in the main cooling system. Any coolant in the reservoir tank is therefore not directly involved in the engine cooling process. As a result, any leaks from the coolant reservoir may not immediately affect the effectiveness of your vehicle's cooling system. In such cases, checking the reservoir tank for cracks is bound to lead you right to the source of the coolant leak.
It is important to note that while the coolant in the reservoir is not directly involved in the cooling process, it is usually pulled back into the main cooling system. Therefore, continued leaking from the reservoir tank will eventually affect the effectiveness of your cooling system. This makes it imperative that you seal the leak as soon as possible.
Pressure test
During the cooling process, the vehicle's coolant usually heats up. As a result, it expands. If your vehicle has a loose radiator cap, every time this happens, there will be loss of the coolant.
To confirm whether this may be what is to blame for your coolant problems, simply test for loss of pressure within the cooling system. The idea is that since the radiator is essentially a closed pressurized system, a loose-fitting cap is likely to blame for your coolant loss if pressure loss is detected.
Any leaks on the radiator can be sealed by using a cooling system sealer. Soldering any holes or cracks using old radiator parts will also work. As for defective parts such as torn hoses, replacing them is the best solution.
For more information and options with your vehicle, visit an auto shop or car dealership, such as Arrow Truck Sales.
Share18 April 2016
Hello, my name is Veronica. Welcome to my site. I am excited to talk to you about DIY and professional auto repairs. Most of the maintenance tasks on your vehicle can be completed in your own driveway. You just need to right tools and repair manuals to complete the job at hand. Of course, there are plenty of tasks best left to the professionals. As you learn to do your own maintenance, you will start to easily tell the difference between professional and DIY worthy tasks. I will use this site to provide all of the information you need to know about this process. Thanks for visiting.