Hi All,
I have a 2006 LT with about 41,600 miles. There is a spot of coolant on the driveway about 2 feet in diameter. It's not a puddle, just orange when wiped with tissue. It is in the driver's side-front.
I've always been religious about flush-and-fill every 5 years. The most recent was exactly one year ago.

When i run the car to 145-F (the hottest it will get on this cold), I don't see steam or an active drip. The overflow reservoir still has coolant, but I can't find the Full marks, The level is to where the tank curves- about 2" of liquid in it.

When I looked under the hood, I see dampness on the radiator's vertical side tank and bracket at the lower hose. Before I attack it in this sub-zero temperature, I was wondering if you all know what the chances of the leak being the plastic radiator tank itself.

If it is the hose or clamp, I can fix it. But if it is the radiator tank, I don't think this is good weather to replace the radiator in the driveway.

On your experiences with the HRR, what do you think my chances are that the radiator is OK?

Thanks Much!
Paul

 

Sounds like it could be the hose, but I wouldn't rule out the radiator either. Only way to know for sure is to pressurize the system and look around. Amazon has a fairly inexpensive pressure tester, or maybe check with the local auto parts store, some have tools you can borrow or rent.

 

Pressure test it or run it until hot and start looking for where it's leaking.

 

A 19 year old car, be prepared to replace the rad and hoses, common leakage the upper rad filler neck or the plastic rad end where the hose attaches.

 

145F and no CEL? Should be 180F-190F no matter how cold ambient is.
Did you check under the pressure cap?
There is no radiator tank.
The full mark is about at the indent.

 

I'd be suspect for a seam leak in the radiator aluminum core to plastic tank.
Hot coolant more or less seals it and then cooling to ambient temp the leak occurs.
Sneak up on it cold engine with the pressure tester pumped up and look for the source.
Had a Dodge magnum recently with a small leak cold sitting. It was a pin hole in the plastic side tank.
Temporary sealed with Bars-leak the only sealer I've ever used. Been around since the 1960's

 

Thank You Each for helping.
I checked it today after driving and there was no apparent leak nor steam. The only area that was wet was the bracket that is directly under the suspect hose. (Perhaps left from yesterday? Or new today? Or the water I saw under the hose yesterday evaporated off today?)

No check Engine Light when the coolant temperature was low and the car was running. I had 192-F as the highest temperature today while driving. (Radiator fan was off, but passenger compartment heat on.) Parked and idling, the temperature dropped, even with the passenger compartment and fan off.

The level in the overflow tank is where Don Brew's drawing showed (cold and hot). When the coolant cools, I'll go back for a look for leaks, as Woody's Mobile suggested.

And I'll try the pressure check as JimVW mentioned while it's cold.

Thanks Again! I'll be sure to write the outcome.
Paul

 

I've a follow up question, if you guys don't mind:
GM sells a ginger root radiator stop leak product. BarsLeaks is said to have a ginger root one too. (Don't know which one it is)

Do you think this is safe to use until the weather warms enough for me to do repairs? Or, will it gum up the engine water jacket passages and radiator?

Thanks,
Paul
I guess gone are the days of black pepper and a raw egg from my youth!

 

GM repackages the Bar's.. It should not be needed, it is mostly for where hoses meet pipes.

 

Check around the hose to radiator for corrosion of the rad hose clamp, I’ve seen them rust out.