Coolant leak the day after cooling system flush

[rockandroller]

[NitroPT]

I can't really see in the picture..is it antifreeze or water?
Is the coolant level very low from when you re-filled after your cleaning?

[Handy_Cruiser]

The definitely looks like antifreeze. It's especially clear later in the video while it's dripping.




There's no way to really tell where it is coming from in the video. If you are close enough, you might want to take it back to the shop that did this "wonderful" job and let them fix right.

[rockandroller]

yep, it's antifreeze alright. And it's already booked to go back to the shop first thing Monday morning - for scheduled brake work and more inspections. Was not anticipating this glitch... just means no wheels for this weekend (since the shop is only open weekdays). It's only a three minute drive from here, so I'll top up the rad Monday morning and take it over there. It will barely be warm by the time I get it to over there

[rockandroller]

BTW is it normal for those two hoses to be hanging that low? I've never noticed them before...

[Handy_Cruiser]

Originally Posted by rockandroller

BTW is it normal for those two hoses to be hanging that low? I've never noticed them before...

They don't hang down that low under mine. But it's a 2nd Gen convertible. I'd still say it looks like your hoses hang down too far.

[rockandroller]

by any chance are those coolant hoses? Or are they sleeved oil lines?

[myckee]

It looks like the drip is coming down the back of the engine and also dripping from the power steering hoses which connect to the rack, also at the back of the engine. Given that, I would suspect that they may not have connected the hose back into the heater core properly when they did the flush, or, didn't put the hose clamp back on properly.

[JoeX]

while its running check the air bleeder, Tried to loosen mine a while back and was scared to snap it off, thought I tightened it enough and it started to leak just a little, it ran down and diagonally along the block to the back of the engine dripping in the area you see on the picture above

[rockandroller]

Thanks @JoeX

I had a look and I'm almost certain it was the bleeder. It doesn't look fully seated, and there are lots of yellow deposits on and around it. I did not have the correct wrench handy to mess with it. Topped up the expansion tank ( just in case) - the actual rad appeared to be full.

Took it to my mechanic this morning (only a three minute drive, so no danger of overheating) and advised him of what seems to have happened. He was puzzled, as he said the bleeders are supposed to "snap in" to closed position and he was sure he had snapped it properly. Anyway I'm sure they will get it sorted.

Today it's scheduled to get a full brake job, and further inspection of the mystery oil leak...