Cooling system dilema

[Figman]

Hello everyone:

I have a ’01 SE7 with SLS, ACE and 70.3K miles. About 2 months ago I discovered a leak from the upper radiator hose T section. I went to my Indy guy and he replaced the thermostat, he said it was defective and creating additional pressure causing the leak. Once replaced, the leak went away. As a precaution and anticipation of the hot summer weather, few weeks later I asked him replaced every cooling hose (about 11 or so in total) and pressure test the system, everything looked good. Two weeks ago I found another leak on one of the skinny hoses attached to the bottom of the reservoir tank. It turned out to be a clamp. Once again as a precaution I decided to replace the plastic tank (I heard somewhere that after a while they develop cracks) I figure the truck is seven years old and over 70K miles. So we topped off the coolant level and tested, so far so good. Today I noticed coolant on the ground and while checking I noticed coolant coming out on the overflow hose that connects to the neck of the plastic tank and points to the ground. Never in four years of ownership or the hottest day had coolant come out thru this hose. The day was nice and cool, the temperature gauge read the correct temperature but with the hood open and the engine running the coolant felt like boiling in the reservoir tank and the upper radiator hoses were very hot. The radiator was replaced about two years ago at the dealership due to a leak.

Is something about to blow up? Is something creating additional pressure that is causing clip-on clamps to fail and the one that were replaced by the screw-on type are so tight that coolant comes out the reservoir tank? Maybe I am overreacting but I don’t want this thing to blow up 200 miles from home.

Sorry for the long email but I figure the more information the better your comments will be.

Thanks all, your help is always appreciated

Figman

 

[joey]

The crimp clamps are junk... spend $10 and replace them all with real hose clamps and the issue will probably go away.

As far as the over flow leaking fluid. If when you stop at let every thing cool down the antifreeze level is still where it should be all should be fine, if it is low, then I would go to a radiator shop and ask them to chemical test for exhaust in the antifreeze.

 

[Figman]

Hello all:

Thanks for you reply; I stopped by my indy guy and asked them to pressure test the system. the leak seems to stop however I remember the tank level much higher that what is recommended. Anyway they tested and there is not evidence of a leak anywhere; however the tip of the overflow hose is always wet with drops of coolant.

Today before my trip to the mechanic I checked the level and it was perfect; for the past few days I have been checking the level and after a trip the level seems to be on the higher side but eventually makes back in to the recommended level. My mechanic said it could be a bad seal on the plastic cap, he let me borrow a used one from another truck that is not "leaking"

Any way thanks and I will keep you posted.

 

[Figman]

I spoke too soon; now I am really nervous. On my way from the shop to my job I got stuck in a lot of stop and go traffic and when I finally got to work I noticed the coolant level much higher pass the normal (cold) mark. the temperature gauge was still at normal level. Finally when I got home, I checked again and the reservoir was almost full where the coolant is coming out thru the overflow hose; sometimes drop by drop or a small continuous drip. It looks like coolant is going out of the engine to the tank but is not going back to the engine to the point that the only way out is the overflow hose. I am afraid if this continues while I am driving the engine is going to run dry and overheat. it is like something is preventing the coolant to flow properly.

What should I do? Please HELP!!!!

 

[joey]

Remember first that when water gets hot it expanse, hence the term Expansion tank. The level will go up and down depending on how hot the engine is.

If you open the hood when you first start it, I bet that most of the fluid will get sucked out of the tank back into the engine. Check in after not running the engine over night.

What you are stating sounds normal to me.