Remember that overheating can cause serious damage to the engine in your vehicle. Stop driving immediately if your vehicle begins to overheat. If your vehicle has been running hotter than usual, you may have a slow leak, as there is still enough coolant in the system to keep the engine cool enough to operate.
Coolant has a green or orange hue to it and should look quite different from motor oil or water. New motor oil may be yellowish, but if it’s been in your engine for a while it will likely be dark brown or even black. Dripped condensation from your air conditioning will just be water.
Coolant remains in the sealed system and the level should not change. If the coolant level is lower upon your second inspection, it means that there is a leak somewhere.
Look for signs of coolant around rust spots that you identify. You may be able to find the leak by following any coolant in these rusty areas to their highest point.
Open the hood after you park the vehicle to allow the heat to dissipate unimpeded. Be prepared to wait for a few hours for your engine to cool enough to work on.
Always wear safety glasses when working under the vehicle. You may also choose to wear gloves to protect your hands from pinches and any remaining heat.
It is unnecessary to use soap when washing your radiator. Use paper towels to wipe away any areas of excessive grime.
Look for fluid or gas spraying from cracks in the radiator. Look for drops of coolant running downward from a leak above them. Listen for hissing coming from the area around the radiator for leaks you can’t see.
Be careful not to add more than 10 to 15 pounds of pressure (psi) to your coolant system. More than that could result in damage and even create more leaks. Your cooling system operating pressure should be listed on the radiator cap and you shouldn’t exceed this number by much when pressure testing. Look for any leaks that may be present on coolant lines as well as the radiator as they may be susceptible to cracking over time.
This method is not as permanent as professional radiator repair or an epoxy, but will suffice to seal small leaks until more permanent repairs can be made. Allow the engine to run for 5-10 minutes while the stop leak product makes its way through the coolant system. After running it, allow the engine to sit overnight as the sealant sets.
You can purchase radiator epoxy at most auto parts stores. Allow the epoxy to set overnight before starting the vehicle.
Using egg yolks could potentially lead to clogs in your coolant lines and is not recommended except in emergencies. This method is less reliable than the commercial products you can use to permanently repair your radiator.
Like egg yolks, this method is not recommended unless you are in an emergency and is less reliable than commercial products. Pepper may be able to seal longer cracks than egg yolks, but is only recommended for small leaks.
Egg yolks and pepper are not meant to be permanent solutions to a radiator leak. Consider using a leak sealant or epoxy to sure up the repair once you make it home. Significant cracks may be beyond repair. In those cases, your radiator will likely need to be replaced. Make sure to refill your coolant system with a 50/50 water and coolant mix any time it is low.
