Coolant leak!

[T_F_E]

So I was driving home yesterday and it was just like any other day except my temperature gauge never moved. My heater was still blowing hot so I figured I had cut the line or something. The drive is only about 5 miles When I got home I checked and my coolant was down about 6 inches (in the radiator).I took off the radiator shroud and see a wet patch of fins in the lower passenger side area, but it looks like it is leaking from a radiator hose. Its hard to tell because of all the stuff in the way underneath. I also can not see any coolant coming out of the radiator, it just form near the bottom of the radiator.

Does anyone have any suggestions for checking hoses? (I will replace the lower tomorrow anyway)

 

[doghead]

Pressure test the coolant system, you should see your leak.

 

[SPECIALTYLC]

Fill the radiator, start the engine and allow it to run until engine is at normal temp. Likely it will leak just sitting in the driveway once the system gets pressure.

 

[T_F_E]

Fill the radiator, start the engine and allow it to run until engine is at normal temp. Likely it will leak just sitting in the driveway once the system gets pressure.

I did that, you should be able to see it leaking out of the fins shouldn't you? I just see a puddle flowing near the bottom hose.

 

[SPECIALTYLC]

It may be the tubes to tank joints that leaking. These can be tough to see with the shroud on. May need to take to a radiator shop.

 

[T_F_E]

It may be the tubes to tank joints that leaking. These can be tough to see with the shroud on. May need to take to a radiator shop.

I live 60 miles from a stoplight and its even longer to a radiator shop so pretty much everything i do I fix myself. I have soldered a few radiators before, can you solder the tubes? There is also a lot of white corrosion on the inside (ughh).

 

[4bogginchevys]

if you want to fix it youself use a wire brush on outside of rad where it's leaking and JB weld it, I do this on my mud truck because it's gotten 3 leaks from rocks getting pitched up at it, it works very well and has saved me tons of trouble with pulling the rad out, remove the shroud and fan, drain coolant below fix level or do it when the lower hose is off. One time at a bog for money I used a heat gun to cure the weld without even draining off the coolant! That was 2 years ago...still no leaks at all where it was welded. Be very careful when soldering it, you can cause more grief if you dont localize the heat, and it will leak from a new spot.

 

[T_F_E]

I see your in rathdrum you should come up here and fix it for me haha. Yeah the plan right now is to replace that lower hose first. The funny thing is that is never leaks more than 6 inches. I filled it up again last night and it had drained to the exact same location it did before. any explanations for that?

 

[4bogginchevys]

thats where the hole is, about 6" down where tank meets fins, real common from what i've seen! My buddies 1009 blew a huge whole right there last sunday wheelin', he's JB'en it right now!

 

[T_F_E]

Oh that would explain why its running down there too, did he take the radiator out to do it? Thanks for the help!

 

[4bogginchevys]

ya, he's a redneck, took out the rad and it is curing on his woodstove in the house...lol