Tips To Repair Car Coolant

A coolant leak is the cause of a malfunction of one of the elements of the cooling circuit. It can cause overheating or even failure. What are the causes and consequences of this phenomenon? How to fix it and at what price? All the answers are in this article.

What are the effects of a leak?

A leak in the cooling circuit of an engine (petrol or diesel type) irremediably leads to overconsumption of coolant and therefore abnormal overheating of the engine (the average temperature of a hot engine being 90C). This situation can be catastrophic for the engine if it returns to the maximum temperature (red zone of the temperature indicator of your vehicle).

What to do in case of a leak?

It all depends on the amount of coolant escaping. In the short term adding liquid can delay the deadline but this solution is not really economical. If the amount of liquid that escapes is high it is better to go directly through a garage because it is the sign of a big failure in forecast (gasket or radiator).

How to recognize a coolant leak?

A coolant leak is a signal that should not be overlooked. Different types of symptoms can be observed:  A drop in the level of the liquid in the expansion vessel. The presence of a whitish deposit at a hose, water pump, clamp or radiator;  A white smoke at the exhaust pipe;  Are you seeing bubbles in the expansion tank?  Important: as soon as one of these signs is found, it is highly recommended to have your vehicle examined by a professional.   

 Coolant leakage:
A coolant leak may be due to a malfunction of the car radiator; 
A rupture of the cylinder head gasket; 
A breakthrough hose; 
Joints in poor condition; 
Radiator Oxidation 

Good to know: leaking coolant often leads to overheating.    

Coolant leakage: how to fix it? 
To stop a coolant leak, there are specific treatments like the radiator leak stop. This liquid is able to prevent micro-leaks, but also to seal micro-cracks in the radiator. This product has several advantages:

t is compatible with all cooling systems of petrol and diesel engines; 
It avoids the degradation of rubbers; 
It prevents the formation of corrosion; 
It is suitable for all coolants and antifreezes. 

Good preliminary maintenance always limits the risk of fluid leaks. It is advisable to regularly check the condition of the coolant contained in the expansion tank and its level. This ensures that it retains its properties. It must not contain any impurities.     Finally, if the leak of coolant is very important and to avoid engine breakage, it is probably necessary to change the radiator quickly, using a garage.    

Note: It is recommended to change the coolant every 3 or 4 years, or more often if traveling more than 20,000 km per year.

 4 steps to identify and repair a leaky radiator

· It consists of thin and hollow beams, which go from the inlet tank to the outlet tank. The radiator is at the front of the engine.
· The coolant is pumped through hoses to reach the engine running, where it is warmed up.
· Back in the radiator, it is cooled by the air passing through the grille as the car moves.
· Finally, it comes back through the engine; let it operate at the optimum temperature.
· If the radiator does not work well, the engine overheats and problems may start.

1.What to check
· Under the car at a standstill, a puddle of green, yellow or orange coolant leaks.
· The temperature indicator may also indicate overheating of the engine.

2. Find the leak.Sometimes steam comes out of the radiator. This indicates either a tiny leak or a split weld. 
· When the leak is not detectable, wash the radiator and hoses with water, start the engine, and observe to find the leak. 
· The radiator must be inspected for cracks, broken fins and coolant leaks that have formed a crust. 
· All hoses, including heaters, should be inspected for sagging or swelling. 
· Coolant crusts on the outside of the pipes or fittings indisputably indicate leakage.
· Also inspect for leaks: the water pump, the overflow tank and the outside of the cylinder head gaskets.
· Be sure to check if coolant or water has contaminated the engine oil. One of these problems requires a visit to the garage. 
· In case you still cannot find the leak, your mechanic or yourself can use a cooling< system pressure tester to test the radiator and plug for leaks.

3. Some quick fixes
· In case of a small leak, buy a radiator sealant: in liquid or powder form, pour it into the radiator when the coolant is still cool, but the engine is running. This product penetrates into nooks and crannies and seals leaks by creating a semi-permanent seal. 
· Another possibility: cold resin. You must drain the radiator and apply the resin when everything is dry.
· If the leak is in one of the pipes, you can also resort to the most Canadianrepair of all: the tape taped.

4. See you at the bodybuilder
Unfortunately, the previous solutions are only temporary. You will need to bring your car to a body shop to find a permanent solution; either a complete repair or a replacement if the damage is too great.

How often the coolant is changed every 2 years or approximately 40,000 kilometers. No matter if it is in good condition or not, it must be changed as it loses properties and from that mileage it is likely that it may cause some other problem. It important that you review it every 20,000 kilometers, which is what most manufacturers recommend. This way you will save yourself changing it later or take some distaste for not knowing that the antifreeze liquid was in poor condition.