Every car faces some difficulties and problems and excessive coolant loss is one of them. Most people only think about fuel and engines and ignore the coolant but it is not ignorable. When the engine internal combustion works, the engine got heated and that’s when the coolant is important.
It absorbs the heat and cools down the engine. So the coolant level always should be in a healthy position. Normally, coolant gets leaks sometimes. The leaks could be small or big but this means you have to resolve this problem as soon as possible to get your engine safe from overheating.
So how many coolant leaks are problematic? although simple lakes can lead to a big problem, when you saw a green Puddle underneath your car, just follow some basic steps and inspect the coolant condition. you can also take your car to a mechanic but it’s good to know the limits and problems yourself.
The Causes of Coolant Loss
Coolant loss means the engine will be overheated and other parts will stop working and started to get damaged. There is no certain level of coolant loss that you can ignore. A simple drop of coolant loss could be a big failure making car overheating to bigger damages.
The low coolant situation can happen for any reason creating overheat. All the reasons depend on engine condition. sometimes drivers’ carelessness and external conditions could be the reasons for coolant loss. other reasons are
Blowing Head Gasket
The Head gasket is a very important part of an engine as it maintains the high and low-pressure system. When it’s blown up, the engine coolant starts dropping and it goes to the combustion chamber.
While going through the combustion chamber it damages the engine block causing extreme chamber burns. Then it excessively which is a very alarming problem as it can damage the converter too.
Coolant enters the combustion chamber causing damage to the engine block or cylinder head resulting in white smoke from the engine.
When all these problems will happen, you won’t get any notification until white smoke comes from the engine. When the gasket not working, the engine compression ratio will also change and develop leaks. The engine oil and coolant should be separated otherwise the coolant won’t be able to cool down the engine.
Faulty Reservoir Cap
Do not skip checking this tiny cap. The cap is the only thing to keep the coolant level in the right position. if the cap is loose or starts wearing out, the coolant will start leaking, and this causes a big problem.
Also, the evaporation rate will be lower when the cap is worn out. The cap should be tightly sealed so the coolant can maintain its usual rates. but a damaged radiator cap can lead them to escape And you will see a warning light.
Expansion Tank Damage
The expansion tank is another area that could get damaged and cause coolant leaks. It is connected to the radiator that receives the coolant with a rubber hose. The tank is made of plastics and it can deteriorate over time. So this fact is not ignorable.
Holes in The Radiator
When the engine part gets extreme heat, the radiators start corroded and it creates coolant leaks. The tube gets clogged over time with dirt and debris which makes the tube weaker so the coolant got leaks easily.
The aluminum radiator has some radiator hoses and they make the problem to the coolant when they are old. it is a sensitive part so coolant leaks cause a big problem. It spills out when the radiator hose cracked.
Also, low-quality coolant corrodes the radiator walls. So it easily creates holes in the surface. In these circumstances, using the best radiator stop leak can make sure to cover the radiator area, but for the other part, you need other solutions that we are discussing in this article.
Cooling System Damage
The engine has many other components such as a thermostat, radiator fan, etc and those components help to cool down the engine. If the thermostat is blown out, coolant cannot flow to the radiators and will be stuck in a closed housing.
So, the coolant gets leakage and you will see green fluid under your car. Also, the radiator fan and water pump get damaged too. So, inspect the overflow tank hose to understand the damages.
The water pump connects directly to the radiator, engine blocks, and radiator hoses. So, after damages, the coolant can leak through this causing low coolant in the main core areas. It also creates a chain of events of engine overheating, resulting in big damages.
Also, when these don’t work properly, the temperature gets higher and the reservoir cap will be damaged.
Failed Water Pump
Water pump failure is a common problem. It is a very important part to make the engine cool by circulating the coolant with a driven belt. So the pump can fail sometimes. When it fails, the coolant got leakage.
Towing Unusually Heavy Loads
Every car has a limit to carrying loads. If you loaded your car with unnecessary things, the engine gets pressure and it affects the cooling system, which causes coolant loss.
Is It a Big Problem to Have a Coolant Leak?
You have to deal with a lot of worse problems in your car. A coolant may get leaks with a very tiny size but that is not good news. If you do not repair it in time, the leakage could grow bigger. Quick fix also saves you time and money. If the coolant loss getting worse, it will affect the engine and overall performance.
How to Locate Coolant Leak
When you get notified that your car coolant has leaks, you should not wait long to fix it. Warm up the engine and drive the car on a clean surface. After that, check the underneath if there is any green puddle.
Cooldown the engine completely then remove the reservoir cap and check the coolant level. If there is no coolant loss underneath your car, check the engine compartment for leakage.
Check the engine parts if they work properly and have any damages. Check around the radiator car, hoses, and other areas for a green puddle.
One of the easy ways to check coolant leaking is, park your car in a dark place, turn on the laser light and search in the engine. If there is any coolant leaking, you will see the green light. Also if the carpet and windows getting damp, the coolant will surely be leaking.
How Much Coolant Loss is Normal
Coolant loss is a very common problem. Sometimes you won’t find any trace of coolant loss. An overflow reservoir burns coolant excessively. Excessive coolant loss creates excessive high temperature to the engine and the engine performance gets lower. This chemical agent can react with other parts.
A big leakage loses the natural balance of coolant and the coolant evaporates quickly. An old engine is another reason for excessive coolant burn.
It is normal that, whether you keep enough coolant in your car, the level will drop at least 0.25% every 5 months without any damage or leakage. So the calculation says your car will lose at least 1 inch of coolant every year. This measurement is normal for the car. But you have to maintain the car properly.
Does Coolant Disappear Over Time?
In this world, nothing stays forever. The engine produces much amount of heat that it can boil the water. Then why not coolant? The main job of coolant is to absorb excess engine overheating and make a balance of the engine.
But coolant disappears over time. So, one should verify the temperature gauge and also check the level of engine overheating and coolant percentage weekly. If you don’t use your car for a long time the coolant will start losing itself.
It gets pressure from the other components and requires proper maintaining. It is advisable not to use old coolants for a long time as they reduce their effectiveness. Change the coolant regularly.
Is The Car Losing Coolant But No Leaks?
The car losing coolant continuously but you cannot find any leaks? Do not think there is magic somewhere. The leaks could be not visible because of some reasons such as overfilling the coolant system.
Inspect the coolant reservoir leak first and then the areas where it is connected. Everything has a proper measurement, so does the coolant level is. If it is not at the required level, your car engine will be overheated.
Any damage to an inside part is another reason for not seeing the leaks. Damage cylinder bores, blown head gasket, water pump failure, and many more could be a big problem for coolant loss.
The reservoir tank wall could be damage or cracks because of corrosion and that is one of the reasons you won’t see any coolant leaks. Also worn out radiator caps, the overheated engine can also cause coolant leaks. This type of situation needs a professional to inspect.
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