Coolant Smell + Steam

[Joseph_S37]

Hello everyone!

So today, after my drive home, i was leaving my car, and as i walked past the hood, I got a faint hint of coolant smell. Of course, i stopped, turned around and looking at the grill of the car, and saw a small amount of steam coming out from under the hood!I popped the hood, and saw minor amounts of steam coming from the radiator area.

I still dont know if my coolant is low, im waiting for it to cool before i open the rad.

The weather has been getting cold lately, so I have been using the heater allot lately. And it has been almost all rain for the last few days, in case this has anything to do with it.

And no the car has not been overheating or even getting close, temp gauge is usually just below half once I get it to normal temp.

Thank you for your time

Cheers!
-Joseph

 

[The_Jeff]

Go out there with a rag while it's still tepid warm. Undo the rad cap and see if it goes whoosh with pressure. It should, and with even a pinhole leak, it won't.

Yeah it burns you when its hot so a little cooldown is a good idea as are goggles.

 

[FL_Rob]

pin hole in rad ,bad rad cap,tiny hose leak,?

 

[Joseph_S37]

Hokay sorry i guess i checked that replay a little late, it had already cooled almost completely.

After checking, rad was full of fluid, but reserve tank was between full and low... but I dont think reserve was ever 'full' so idk?

 

[SAATR]

Originally Posted By: Camry_Frenzy37
Hokay sorry i guess i checked that replay a little late, it had already cooled almost completely.

After checking, rad was full of fluid, but reserve tank was between full and low... but I dont think reserve was ever 'full' so idk?


What kind of vehicle is it? I would check for a loose or leaking overflow hose and possibly a radiator cap that's leaking pressure. If the vehicle is a Camry, especially an older one, I would look at the area around the radiator hose on the upper tank and inspect it for cracks and leaking.

 

[Joseph_S37]

Yeah it is a camry, 93 to be exact.

My assumption right now is the cap, but i will be checking again tomorrow when the engine is hot again. Hopefully i can spot the source of this.

 

[spasm3]

I would replace the cap and see what happens. How old is the coolant in the car? does the coolant have enough specific gravity?( antifreeze tester)?
. Even if you end up replacing the radiatior you will want a new cap for it , so start there.

 

[VicL]

Definitely check when its hot. From my experience, you can spot the leak easiest after the engine is fully warmed up and you shut if off. Pop the hood, the coolant will heat up some more (now that the fans and water pump are off) and as the pressure builds up it will leak, possibly squirt out of the offending area. Have a mirror and flashlight on hand to look where your head can't fit.

If you're lucky it'll just be a loose clamp, bad cap or radiator hose leak.

Vic

 

[mechtech2]

It is good that you noticed this.
You have to keep an eye on it, and hopefully diagnose it, as it is a rattlesnake giving it's warning rattle, before it strikes.
You have some sort of leak. Minor or major - we can't tell yet.

 

[Joseph_S37]

Sorry everyone for the extremely late reply, been very busy with school and work lately.

But I did manage to find the leak. There is a small hairline crack along the top part of the rad, to the right of the cap. It is right at the top along the smooth part, above the fins.

It seems to still hold pressure for the most part, again, temp gauge never gets above half.

Anybody know a solution to something like this??

If not, a cheap place to order radiators? One that ships to Canada of course

=)

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: Camry_Frenzy37


Anybody know a solution to something like this??

Your best option is a new Radiator. Yours is 17 yrs old and is way past it's expected lifespan. Some shops will put a new tank on it with varying results. Of course now you have a new top tank but an old core and old bottom tank so the next weekest link starts leaking.

Now your into it for more money than a new radiator would have cost you.

 

[The_Jeff]

It's not holding pressure, you don't need much of a crack to leak the pressure but hold most of the fluid.

I would fix it next paycheck. Karma has been good to you and given you a warning.

Might see if some ebay sellers ship to canada. Same chinese rad you'd get in autozone or can tire for less $$$.

 

[mechtech2]

A quick fix in an emergency is to simply run with the radiator cap on loose - just one click.
And let the coolant level go low.
What does this do? Less pressure and therefore no leaks.
The downside is with less pressure, you may boil the fluid.

JB Quick weld can fix leaks like this. Really clean and roughen the area, and slob it on. A metal patch over the top can add strength.

But at 17 years, it may be time for a new one.
It's nice to have options.