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Radiator fluid leaking from hose under overflow container on 2001
There is antifreeze leaking from hose under overflow container on 2001 malibu. It is not leaking from the engine area, but from the area above the wheel well nearly under the overflow tank for the radiator. Had a small leak we noticed on ground about 2-3 days ago, now we have a major leak. Feels like there is a cracked hose. Wondering where it goes and comes from
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A flashing red temperature indicator means your fluid level is low. The 99 beetle takes VW-specific antifreeze; do NOT buy standard green antifreeze for it! Fluid should be added to the round overflow bottle located on the passenger side corner of the engine compartment. Fill the container to the MAX line indicated on the bottle. I use Pentosin Pentofrost SF in mine, available at O'Reilly Auto Parts. As with most antifreeze products, mix it 1:1 with water before adding.
Cars do not normally "use" antifreeze, so if you keep having to add antifreeze, you should check for leaks. Heater hoses or radiator hoses are the most common places for leaks to occur, but the plastic thermostat housing is susceptible to cracking, so check that as well. Otherwise, you could be looking at a leaking radiator or heater core. Worst case scenario would be a leaking head gasket allowing fluid to escape into the cylinders, but that should be suspected only after everything else has been checked. The only other place you would ever see a fluid leak would be a bad freeze plug on the block, but those are very uncommon.
Could be your water pump is leaking or a loose hose clamp,to find out for sure Sherry,you need to get under front and look for antifreeze,will need a flashlight,and follow to where it's coming from.Usually when cold,the antifreeze will be on that mark on the overflow container,then after driven for a while,it will expand and rise to the hot mark.You also have heater hoses going to heater core,is floor board in front wet.You have a hose going to thermostat and water pump.Also check radiater cap.
Hi Sharlene,so you smell antifreeze.Raise your hood and check your antifreeze over flow container,you should have a l and a h mark on it,high and low.If low,then it's leaking somewhere,look at the radiator cap and overflow hose for leak,look at over flow container for leak from hose going to it from radiator,look all over engine,look at top and bottom radiator hoses and clamps for leaks,if leaking there,tighten clamp with flat head screw driver,if no leak is found,get under vehicle and see if any antifreeze is visible,maybe water pump,look on ground for leak and follow,check floor board on driver side,heater core could be bad,check hoses going to heater core from engine firewall.
It goes in the over flow reservoir. This is a sealed system. Chances are you have orange antifreeze, which is supposed to be a 100k + miles antifreeze. Do not mix colors. Use Orange antifreeze if you are topping it off.
Yellow cap at top is break fluid - Blue cap on right is windshield solvent - Blue cap in between is Antifreeze/Coolant. As you can see, my resiviour is stained orange and sits above the valve cover. It has a hose that runs off the front, under the cowl, and to the radiator.
First check hoses and water pump while car is hot and running. If you find nothing then let car cool down and fill overflow container. Get engine hot again. When engine is hot turn off car and check the overflow tube coming out of the overflow tank. If it is spitting antifreeze then you have air in the system. Bleed system by opening the 7mm bleeder. You may have to do this a few times until all air is out of the system and overflow stops spitting antifreeze.
You'll have to get under the car and look. Could be frost plugs, block heater, head gasket... lots of things. But you have to see where it origionates. It could run a long way before it gets to the ground by your right tire.
first, remember that any leak will run down...There is nothing near your muffler that contains antifreeze, therefore, what ever is leaking has been blown back there while driving. Open up the hood and look to see where leak is originating. check all hoses, hose connections, radiator, rug under heater in the cab and everything associated with cooling system. You will see antifreeze coming out somewhere. Once you locate the leak, I can help you deal with it. Do not open the radiator when engine is hot! Do not drive with low coolant condition! This is not a solution...yet...I'ts the beginning of one!
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