Here’s How Can You Inspect the Source of Coolant Leakage

A coolant is a necessary fluid to keep the temperature, under the hood, within its operating range. In the event that there is a lack of coolant due to any reason, there would be frequent instances of overheating. And, keeping the importance of such a fluid in mind, you should always keep an eye on the coolant level. Older cars need more care due to wear and tear from years of service.

Sometimes, you may find a few or more spots on the floor under your car. But, how can you be sure that the spots on the ground are coolant drops?  Normally, the coolant spots are of green, orange, or sometimes pink colour, and they may produce a sweet smell.

On the other hand, you can discover a coolant leak by noticing the temperature gauge. There would always be some sort of fluctuation in the temperature in the absence of coolant. If the temperature rises in a few seconds after a considerable amount of driving, you should check your coolant.

If you have confirmed the coolant leakage, next find the source of the leakage. Coolant travels a lot of distance under the hood, so it can leak from a number of locations. Let’s have a look over the common points of leakage.

Is it a crack in the radiator?

Engine parts go through a lot of wear and tear, as does the radiator. Besides, it has to battle corrosion too. When hoses lose their capacity to transport the coolant, there could be a crack or hole. Moreover, their connection with the radiator and water pump may also become weak.

Besides, a sealing gasket may get weaker over time and become a source of leakage. In the event of a coolant leak, you should not ignore the expert service available at Service My Car.

Is it a blown head gasket?

Head gaskets have a lot of responsibility to support engine processing. Restraining coolant from leaking or entering into the engine block needs an intact head gasket. However, the head gasket might get damaged due to excessive heat under the hood.

The head gasket deals with a lot of challenging situations, such as extremely high pressure when an engine runs at high RPMs or low pressure. It needs to tolerate various temperatures, too.

If it has some sort of crack or damage, it would be hard to keep the engine oil and coolant protected. This kind of issue may wreak havoc on an engine. And, a mere issue such as coolant leakage might turn into an engine failure that may require extensive car engine repair.

Service My Car offers expert solutions from automobile experts so that you do not have to pay too much for severe engine issues.

Is it a failed water pump?

When there is talk about coolant circulation, the water pump comes into action. This is a device responsible for pumping coolant throughout the cooling system.

A water pump usually has a direct connection to the radiator, and sometimes it comes into contact with corrosion, especially when the hose connected to the radiator becomes loose. On the other hand, it could have some sort of external damage.

However, a problematic water pump cannot circulate the coolant, and the engine might not get enough cooling. Therefore, the failure of the water pump might be the cause of the engine overheating. Get it checked by an expert at Service My Car as soon as possible.

Is there any problem with the expansion tank?

Coolant cannot stay in the hoses or tubes forever, so there is always an expansion tank. It is a plastic container that reserves the coolant.  The coolant comes into the expansion tank through the radiator.

However, there are always varying conditions in terms of temperature, so the plastic may get weak over time. A weak plastic is always prone to cracking, and once the crack opens, leakage happens. On the other hand, any hose connecting the expansion tank or radiator might be damaged or have a loose connection.

Take a step ahead to prevent a coolant leak

The best option to keep things intact is to follow the regular schedule of car maintenance. It should include the coolant replacement as well as the inspection of a number of hoses transporting the coolant to several places.

Besides, you should always ask your mechanic to inspect the level of coolant in the reservoir. However, a low level of coolant cannot perform its duty to cool down the engine. Older coolant tends to become acidic, and once it starts to change its state, radiators are always at high risk.

 Service My Car facilitates your expertise in a variety of automobile problems, allowing you to keep your vehicle on the road in good condition. However, you have to take the next step by booking a car service or ordering a car repair quote online.