Author Topic: Coolant leak  (Read 2631 times)

Offline Scowling

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Coolant leak
« on: September 26, 2015, 05:46:21 pm »
Good afternoon everyone. Kind of a dumb question but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone has had this happen to them. This morning I parked my truck at work, went out for lunch and noticed a puddle of coolant on the ground under the passenger door. Crawled underneath noticed it was running down the frame. Popped the hood open, coolant on top of the air cleaner, the passenger side manifold, passenger side fender. Checked all hoses, clamps , connections etc. No blown hose, or missing hose. Drivers side was dry and clean. Topped the coolant reservoir, only lost about a litre or so of coolant. Started engine, let it idle, kicked it down from high idle. Looked around at the hoses again, see no drips or leaks. Is there something I'm missing? Anyone have an idea what happened?
Thanks
Truck is a '86 C3500 with 350

Offline Irish_Alley

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Re: Coolant leak
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2015, 10:55:50 pm »
prob a heater hose or a pin hole in the hose or heater core/ hose connection. sounds like it was spraying so i wouldnt think the reservoir would get all that wet due to no pressure in it
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Offline Captkaos

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Re: Coolant leak
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2015, 09:55:39 am »
Agreed, sounds like you have a leak under pressure.

Offline blazer74

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Re: Coolant leak
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2015, 02:20:34 pm »
Get it good and hot to operating temp, shut it off and pressure will rise.
Should expose the leak.
If not it will get worse.


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Offline jaredts

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Re: Coolant leak
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2015, 09:07:40 pm »
Borrow a coolant pressure tester from Autozone.  It will allow you to pump up the system and includes a gage to look for a leakdown, however the pump is your friend in this case.  It will allow you to pressurize the system without getting everything hot.  That way you can safely feel around for damp spots and troubleshoot without getting burned.

Offline Scowling

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Re: Coolant leak
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2015, 08:49:21 am »
Thanks everyone. Been away from the computer since I posted the question. Turns out I was a hose with a weak spot. Changed coolant lines going to the heater core and found the pressure side had a weak area. Knew had to be something stupid like that.