Why is leaking coolant a serious problem?
Coolant is a liquid stored in your vehicle’s coolant tank. When your car’s thermostat detects a rise in engine heat, coolant is pumped into your engine to bring the temperature back down. It then flows back into the radiator where it cools down again.
A coolant leak can prevent your engine from receiving the cooling it needs. This can result in the engine overheating and becoming seriously damaged.
Learn more about how the cooling system works >
Symptoms of a coolant leak:
High temperature gauge – If the temperature gauge is rising, it is a sign of your engine being starved of coolant. We recommend that you stop driving if the temperature gauge starts to rise above the normal level. This is to prevent engine damage.
Other causes of high engine temperature include:
Visible puddles under the vehicle – You may notice puddles appearing under your vehicle. This means that there is a leak. Smear some of the liquid onto a piece of paper and take note of the colour. Coolant leaks are often orange, red, yellow or green, or if not change / serviced coolant can be a rusty brown / orange colour.
Learn how to diagnose different types of leaks >
Leaking Radiator – if your engines radiator gets a leak in its top tank, bottom tank, radiator cap or radiator core, then it you will lose radiator coolant and antifreeze.
Leaking Waterpump – The water pump gasket or the water pump main bearing are often causes for cooling system leaks. Pressuring the cooling system with a hand pump that fits onto the radiator cap area, can quickly show these leaks with the engine off.
Blown Head Gasket – if your engines head gasket blows then then this can force air pressure into the cooling system which can force engine coolant out of the cooling system. Another common occurrence is that water / cooling fluid can enter the engine oil, or engine coolant can leak out the side of the cylinder head.
Heater producing cold air – The heater works by blowing air through heated coolant and a small heater radiator under the dash above your feet, increasing the air’s temperature. If there is little or no coolant, the heater will not be able to produce warm air as not liquid coolant is flowing through the radiator.
Lack of coolant in the tank – If there is little/no coolant in the tank/reservoir, it is likely leaking out of your vehicle.
Radiator/Coolant Leak Inspection in Hamilton
If your cooling system has a leak, your vehicle will be at risk of overheating until the leak is fixed. At Grimmer Motors, we can quickly determine the source of coolant leaks and fix the problem. We can then provide your vehicle with fresh coolant, allowing the engine to stay at the right temperature.
For coolant leak diagnostics and fixes in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!