Coolant leak turning white and crusty?

[The motor guy]

I have a coolant hose on my truck that leaks a bit and it runs down by the cylinder head area. Is it the heat that turns the coolant that into a white crusty color? Guess I need to take a tooth brush or something and brush it off. It has a stainless clamp that needs to be tightened periodically. It seemed pretty tight the last time I checked and I'm worried I'm going to crack the stand pipe that it's connected to if I tighten the clamp anymore. This goes into the cylinder head.

 

[dogememe]

i just had some used coolant dribble down a hose on my Dodge in the process of flushing it and it left a white crusty stain along the whole thing. I think that's normal is all I'm saying.

 

[Kestas]

That's probably the water glass formulated into the antifreeze. Many antifreezes have sodium silicate, which coats the cooling system insides to protect from corrosion.

 

[clinebarger]

Replace the hose along with new OEM clamps, It's leaking on the exhaust side of the cylinder head.....It gets pretty hot.

 

[The motor guy]

I use the zerex g05 which is supposed to be the mopar equivalent if that helps.

 

[Merkava_4]

Let me guess, you're running tap water in the coolant, correct ?

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: clinebarger

Replace the hose along with new OEM clamps, It's leaking on the exhaust side of the cylinder head.....It gets pretty hot.

The hose has to be cut off. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4

Let me guess, you're running tap water in the coolant, correct ?

Nope I splurged and used distilled water the last time I changed the coolant.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman

Nope I splurged and used distilled water the last time I changed the coolant.

Well, that rules out my theory of the white crusties being calcium deposits. . . .

 

[The motor guy]

Merk I think it's like the other guy said. Just the additives coming out from the heat.

 

[MNgopher]

That's what is left when G-05 leaks and evaporates. Simply the deposits from the additives. When the radiator leaked on my Explorer, that's what was left behind (along with a Y-pipe leak for the rear heater).

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman

Nope I splurged and used distilled water the last time I changed the coolant.

Well, that rules out my theory of the white crusties being calcium deposits. . . .

the long life coolants leave a white stain when they leak.

 

[DoubleWasp]

Just coolant being coolant. Ultra ELC leaves yellow crust. ELC NF leaves pink crust, etc., etc.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Tuna on white no crust from Fast and Furious.

 

[Trav]

Change the clamp for a constant tension one.

 

[oldoak2000]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman

I have a coolant hose on my truck that leaks a bit.... I'm worried I'm going to crack the stand pipe that it's connected to if I tighten the clamp anymore......

I see a cracked head(s) in your very-near future; This - asap:

Originally Posted By: clinebarger

Replace the hose along with new OEM clamps...

the white-crusty residue was your 'final warning' . . .

 

[The motor guy]

Why? That hose would probably still be on there even if you took the clamp.off.