Leaky Coolant

[APartamian]

So I'm about to go back home to NYC on Monday so before I take the 350 mile journey I figured I would check all my fluids and make sure everything is okay. So I'm idling my car to check the transmission fluid and I saw a puddle of coolant forming on the floor right beneath the radiator. Dripping like a leaky faucet. I took it to Jiffy Lube and they said they don't see any problems with it and that I should just keep my eye on it and make sure it doesn't get any worse, saying it might be a cracked hose or something. Anything I should be worried about? Any way I can find the cause of this problem? Any other reason my radiator would be leaking fluid?

Thanks for any of the help.

 

[Lt.Jim]

Jiffy lube could'nt find the leak? I don't believe it!j/k

Try folowing the coolant from the floor up. Get under your truck and see if you can follow the trail of coolant to the leak.

 

[APartamian]

I did look underneath it and saw that it was coming from the first metal beam that that goes across the car right underneath the radiator. I could not see exactly where it was coming from becasue this beam was in the way but my guess is it was dripping onto this beam and then falling to the ground.

 

[budwich]

If its a 94 and original... its your rad.... but without your vehicle running... let it cool off for a bit so you don't burn your hands.... start feeling things like the lower hose, the drain valve area for wetness.

 

[APartamian]

Thanks ill be sure to do that tomorrow.

 

[Joe Dirt]

If the truck stops leaking when it warms up, it most likely expands the leaking connection and that's why Jiffy couldn't find it. If it isn't dripping, they usually don't go any further. That's what mine does- from one of the tanks on the side- just drips a little on startup if under 25 degrees outside, once it warms up, everything expands, and leak stops.

 

[APartamian]

Hmm I will have to check this out. I really cant tell how hot my engine is running though because the thermostat does not work. Its snowing right now so it is pretty cold over here. I will post back with some findings. I will be apprenticing at a garage over winter break so im sure during my spare time there I'll be able to find the problem.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Cool- yeah, really doesn't matter what temp (as long as it is operating in normal operating ranges) the heat expands the materials and may stop the leak...

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1803028&postcount=3