![]() That’s why we’re committed to educating drivers about easy, affordable leak solutions that most drivers can use themselves. ![]() ![]() But leaks, odd smells, and out of place noises that go ignored can cause major issues down the road. Many people lead extremely busy lives that leave little time for vehicle maintenance. Don’t wait too long before finding a solution. Remember, a major loss of fluid can damage the transmission or leave you without the ability to get the car in gear. Check the level frequently and top off as necessary. Transmission fluid leaksĪgain, a small, slow leak is not an urgent problem. A major loss of fluid can leave you without the ability to safely steer your vehicle, so don’t wait too long before finding a fix. However, a small power steering leak will almost always get worse over time. Power Steering fluid leaksĪ small, slow leak is not an immediate problem. As soon as you detect a coolant leak, take action. A sudden loss of coolant can severely overheat the engine, spelling the end of the engine’s life. These tend to go from minor to major very quickly and often without warning. There’s no fooling around when it comes to coolant leaks. Take action before a low-oil issue cooks your engine and leaves you stranded on the roadside. If you’re topping it off every time you fill up with gas, you’re headed for major engine trouble. Check your oil level frequently and top it off when necessary. Oil leaksĪ few drops may not be an immediate problem. ![]() But remember, any small, slow leak can become a major, fast leak without warning – take care of leaks as soon as you’re able. On some applications, a valve may close off the heater core when heat is not required.It depends on the leak, how fast it’s leaking, and how long it’s been leaking. Most recommend turning the heater to MAX so the product will circulate through the heater core. Many sealer products are simply added to the cooling system to prevent or stop an existing leak. Many of the heavy-duty head gasket sealers contain sodium silicate that hardens when it is pulled into a leak and exposed to the heat of combustion. Some products also contain tiny ceramic fibers that essentially form a clot to seal a leak. Others contain small ceramic or metallic particles of aluminum, copper or iron, or even ground up almond shells that circulate with the coolant to mechanically plug small leaks. Some contain chemicals that react with air and harden to plug a leak. Various chemistries and ingredients are used in sealers to stop leaks. Stopping a leak here is much more difficult (but not impossible) because of the rotation of the shaft and pressure against the seal. Most sealers are capable of slowing or stopping small leaks (smaller than about half a millimeter in size) almost anywhere in the system with one exception: the water pump shaft seal. or more) so even a tiny pinhole anywhere in the system can spray out quite a bit of coolant in a very short period of time.Ĭommon leak points include the water pump shaft seal, radiator end cap seams, the heater core, intake manifold and cylinder head gaskets, radiator and heater hoses, the thermostat housing, expansion plugs in the engine block, hairline cracks in cast iron heads and blocks, and porosity leaks in aluminum head and blocks. The coolant is hot (180 to 200 degrees F) and is under constant pressure (usually 7 to 15 lbs. It flows through the engine block and heads, hoses, radiator and heater core. It doesn’t matter where a leak occurs because coolant is constantly circulating throughout the entire system. Most late-model cooling systems have little reserve capacity, which means the loss of a quart of coolant may be enough to make an engine run hot and overheat. Many fleets also use coolant sealers on a regular basis for the same reason, to reduce the risk of leaks that could cause a breakdown and down time for a much needed vehicle.Ī coolant leak is bad news because any loss of coolant will eventually cause an engine to overheat. Engine rebuilders often place a small cube of sealer inside a freshly rebuilt engine’s cooling jacket to reduce the risk of any coolant leaks when the engine is installed in a vehicle. Cooling system sealers also can be used for preventive maintenance to stop small leaks before they turn into big ones.
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