Lexus GX 2004-09 :: Antifreeze Leaking From Radiator
Jan 6, 2013
Last thursday night my wife said she had no heat in her car (03 gx470). I didn't know what to do so on Friday I did some research at work. On Friday my wife drove the car to work and back. Before she left work I asked her to look at the temp gauge and she never noticed it going over normal temp. On Saturday morning, I checked the radiator and it was practically empty so I drove it 3 miles to a shop to have them diagnose the leak problem. while in front of the shop I noticed antifreeze leaking from the radiator so I drove the truck home without them doing anything. Temp gauge never surpassed the middle.
I drove the truck home with the intention of replacing the radiator but I can't get the part until tomorrow (Monday) so to save time, I drained the radiator and pulled it out. I got less than 1/2 gallon from draining it. The coloring was red and green, which made me think tranny fluid and coolant but it wasn't milky and as I thought about it I recall when i did the 90k service with my bro (former toyo mech) the blocks where never drained so I'm guessing that I absent mindedly mixed green prestone with toyo coolant. Probably the reason my radiator is leaking?
After taking the radiator out, I didn't drain the coolant from the block valves, but I think it would be good to do that just to get an idea of whether or not its empty.
This morning i was thinking i should do a full flush after i replace the radiator, but since it would be impossible to open the valve on one side perhaps a flush isn't the right thing to do. Not sure if I should do a tranny dump and fill.
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It's leaking antifreeze directly under the radiator before I pull out the radiator could it be something else, it's hard to see without putting it up a lift just what else it could be like the water pump or hoses or connections stuff like that.
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Went to start my truck to leave work yesterday and blew the coil on #2. It's happened before and I can fix that. The other weird thing that happened was that the radiator leaked out some antifreeze. Not a lot, but a good 2 foot puddle. The reserve was still full and it leaked from the passenger side at the bottom (below the upper hose). Upper and lower hose show no sign of leakage. I suppose the drain is on the lower end of the passenger side of the radiator and it leaked from there. Would the compression from the engine cause that to happen? Or is it something more, dare I say, like the head gasket blew?
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I went for a hour drive tonight after i brought car back to garage i could smell a distinct odor of anti freeze or fumes that would exit the radiator. I checked under the car no leak i looked in the engine compartment looking for perhaps a spill of antifreeze that might be resting on top of the front engine pan. I could not find any liquid.
The temp gauge when i was driving was a bit below mid way it usually as I remember is there or a bit lower. Where the smell is coming from I had the heat on for a bit in the car while top was down and i have no leaks in the interior of the car . The car is a 2005 I have 5940 miles on it . I bought it new in 2005 and I only drive it in good weather and on weekends .
I have not had any major service since the mileage is so low other then state inspections oil and filter regular changes done once a year Mobil 1 . Should I consider flushing the radiator and changing the anti freeze. As I said I don't drive it on long runs but I do use it a bit around town. When I lift the hood i can smell the anti freeze but cant find any.
What to look for. The coolant overflow reservoir cover was in place and all hoses looked good and there was some residual coolant in the tank as there should be and i could not see any steam or vapor coming off these parts.
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I have a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe with a 3.5L engine and 92,000 miles.
For the past week or so, I have noticed a very slight smell of antifreeze/radiator fluid every once in a while. I assumed that it is a radiator hose leak or possibly a leak in the heater core. But, the vehicle does not overheat, there is no steam or fog inside that would indicate a possible heater core leak, and the radiator fluid level seemed full or almost full (although the radiator overflow container was empty). I added a little water to the radiator and filled the overflow container to make sure there was plenty of radiator fluid in the system.
I haven't seen any radiator fluid on the ground around the vehicle at anytime. When I open the hood, I don't see any leaking hoses. I took off the engine cover to see better, and I don't see any leak around the water pump, or dripping from the pump, or dripping from any hoses, etc. But, BELOW the water pump is something made of cast metal that I am guessing is the automatic transmission(?) -- I really don't know what it is. And, sitting in some valleys or crevices in that part are small pools of green fluid that clearly looks and smells like radiator fluid with antifreeze.
I ran the vehicle for a long time while watching to see if I could create or see the leak or anything dripping etc. But I don't see anything other than
those pools of green liquid just sitting there. I tried moving or wiggling the hoses, and nothing changed. I also tried keeping it running with the heat on high, then later with the AC on high -- still no change. Then I tried using paper towels and sopping up what I could that was in these valleys/crevices, then I drove it again (but only for about 4 miles so far) and I don't see any new fluid in the crevices or anywhere else.
Here are 5 photos that I took with the engine cover off while the green fluid was still there. The photos go from a wider angle overall view down to a view of the green puddles from a slight angle and then down to a top view of the green puddles.
[URL] ....
Where you may see dark areas on the water hoses near the water pump, they are just shadows created by the flash or the sun or whatever. The hoses themselves are all one color and are not wet etc.
My questions:
Am I correct that where the small green puddles are is the automatic transmission?
Is it possible that there is some connection between that (the automatic transmission(?)) and the radiator cooling system?
Is it possible that the cooling system somehow also cools the automatic transmission (or whatever that is)?
If so, could the leak be right there -- maybe where that bolt or the other wire/connection piece is -- and the radiator fluid is coming UP from there? What this may be or where the leak is coming from?
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2004 Nissan Quest... Leaking from right side of solenoid valve.
Should I replace valve or fix gasket? Where would it be leaking? From solenoid valve or heater coil? Lose 1 liter a week.
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The last week or so, the coolant level low light has been coming on in my 04 Touareg V6, and I've noticed that it is leaking underneath the car. I've been keeping a close eye on the level, and filling it back up until I could get it into the dealer. They can't get me in until the 24th, so when I was under it last night changing the oil I checked it out.
It is dripping from a round plastic piece on the firewall with a square "knob" on it. This "knob" has what looks like a cross indented into it. It was dripping slowly while the car was on, and continues for a few minutes after it's been turned off. I originally thought it was the a/c condensation dripping off, but it's definitely antifreeze.
I fear that it's the heater core and that it is leaking from the inside, but I could just be paranoid. It should still be under warranty (34,000 miles).
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I have a 08 f-150 with a 5.4. Started smelling anti-freeze in the cab, with that classic windshield haze of a leaking heater core. I don't have anything on the floor, nor is the engine heating up. Temp gauge is where it always is. This doesn't smell all the time.I just drove 4 1/2 hrs. with no problems. Other than the heater core ?
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I've got some dripping of antifreeze on my 2000 Explorer. I figured maybe I'd try a recommended "stop-leak" product...
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2002 Santa Fe with 140K. Superbly well maintained.
I notice . Looked all around....then on the radiator toward the top where the metal meets the plastic. I noticed wetness across the entire radiator. Thought it may be coming from the upper hose and spreading across....Replaced the upper hose....Not the problem.
Still has anti freeze seeping across the radiator / plastic area. Does the mean the entire radiator needs replacing? I have searched the forums and seems like no one had replaced a radiator on the Santa.
Is the radiator breaking down. Oh, it's NOT the water pump.
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So this is my major problem, leaving for a camping trip tomorrow afternoon. It's just 15 miles away, easy flat drive. What has happened is the trans line coming out of the bottom of radiator is leaking next to the fitting about an 1/8 ' out, So I can't cut off and splice in hose for the trip. I worked on it for about an hour, rusted on, tried some heat and now have some PB Blast on it and all I am doing is starting to round off the head of fitting. Is there any way to bypass this just to get the camper to campground and then get to a shop while we are gone Don't care if I have to splice and cut, will get new lines later.
2004 f250SD 5.4 83000miles
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I have a 2005 GX 470, I noticed a sound, like that of a belt being loose, the sound came from the front of the truck. A few minutes later the AC stopped cooling, it was blowing really hot air and then the temperature of the engine went really high. I stopped on the side of the road, when we opened the hood, the belt was not broken but there was antifreeze everywhere.
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OK to put the Motorcraft Anti-freeze in my radiator straight without mixing?
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I have a 2000 suburban and it's leaking anti freeze but not going on the ground not sure where the leaking anti freeze is going to. it started out with no heat I, with my dad replace the cabin filters and got front heat back but after awhile I lost heat only in the front I have rear heat. not sure what the problem is? I am afraid to take it to a dealer and get scammed. it's not over heating or getting hot, but in the winter when it first started it i doled hard and it sounded like something was wrong with the lifter?
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I have 3400 engine in 2000 alero (V6 of course). Been having problem with my antifreeze leaking, So I assume the lower intake gasket again(which I have already replace 6 years ago with no problem) but this time after I replace it I notice coffee color oil (antifreeze getting in the oil). So figure I must have done something wrong so I replace the lower intake gasket again making sure I tighten everything with correct torgue. Still the same problem, if not worst. I took the front valve cover off (because I didn't see any coffee color from the back valve cover last time) to see if I can see where the antifreeze is coming from, I can see the the coffee color oozing on the top of the 2 center pushrods and rockers not quite from the gaskets itself (from what I can see) and white steam coming valley (or between the two heads)and notice bubbling on the bottom (not sure if that is normal). Not really into replacing the head gasket, but before I do, I want to make sure first.
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2000 Lincoln ls v8 ... I just replaced degas bottle and cap. I changed because it was leaking antifreeze. Now even with new bottle after I turn car off antifreeze is still coming through degas bottle cap. I was wondering if my problem could be my water pump going bad causing the fluid to boil after engine is shut and building pressure high enough to push through cap?
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A retired friend of mine has a 1995 Buick Century with a busted head gasket. Oil is leaking and mixing with the antifreeze. It has roughly 140,000 miles. At the moment he does take it on short trips around the neighborhood.
He has maintained it religiously. It has new brakes, etc. And two years ago he had a rebuilt transmission installed. He still likes the car. And aside from the head gasket everything else runs well on it. Would it be worth fixing? Installing a rebuilt engine?
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Is it normal for a small amount of antifreeze to leak out of the small hole on top of my Jaz overflow tank? This is on a 73 Chevy small block.
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I have an old 83 datsun pickup. It is my first car and I love it and it has more character than most people that I know. one day it just started leaking antifreeze. I looked under the hood and could see a steady leak way down on the bottom driver's side of my engine. What's the problem and how can I fix it? No matter what, getting rid of this car is not an option.
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My daughter's 2003 Dodge Neon overheated. We tried to add antifreeze to the reservoir but it leaked out from the reservoir. Once the car cooled down we were able to drive it to Firestone. They replaced the reservoir, thermostat, radiator cap, and flushed the radiator and replaced coolant. The next week the car overheated again. This time we put water in the (new) reservoir and it leaked again. The mechanics tell me this is how those reservoirs are made. Is this true?
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I have an 08 Explorer with the 4.6v8. I've noticed the clutch fan on at start up the last few days. Check anti freeze and I was empty in the reserve. While filling the reserve there is a steady drip from the passenger side but I can not see it. It's trickling down the radiator but can't see from where. Is there a common hose, sensor or crack in reserve tank I should be looking for? Car hasn't overheated as of yet. It leaks with no pressure in radiator as well as with.
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